Philosophy of Religion Mind Mapping Project
Ontological Arguments
Attachments:
Ontological Arguments, by Graham Oppy
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Ontological Argument Discussion Forum
1: An a priori argument
Attachments:
A priori and a posteriori defined in Wikipedia
A priori and a posteriori explained
2: First proposed by Anselm
Attachments:
'A Necessary God?', by Roy Jackson
Scholastic Philosophy Blog
Introduction to Anselm's writings
Critical Discussion
2.1: Ist form: God is a being than which nothing greater can be conceived
Attachments:
Annotated paraphrase of the argument
Proslogium Chapter 2
2.1.1: Gaunilo's Island objection
Attachments:
On behalf of the fool
Introduction to Gaunilo's objection
2.1.1.1: Anselm's reply: God is not an example of a kind, but the most perfect thing of all
Attachments:
Anselm replies to the Island objection
2.2: 2nd form: Something can be thought to exist that cannot be thought not to exist
Attachments:
God as a necessary being
Proslogium Chapter 3
Philosophy Cafe site
2.3: Criticisms of Anselm
Attachments:
Philosophers criticise Anselm
3: Kant's objection
Attachments:
Kant criticises Anselm
3.1: Existence is not a predicate
Attachments:
Explanation of the idea that existence is not a predicate
'Existence is not a predicate' analysed
Kant text
3.1.1: Existence cannot be given in our concept of an object
Attachments:
The philosophical concept of 'existence' explained
Wikipedia on existence
Mental Connections:
---- Therefore, no existential proposition can express a necessary truth
3.1.2: There is no contradiction in denying the existence of a necessary being
Attachments:
God and other necessary beings
Logic and necessary being
What is a necessary being?
Logical possibility explained in Wikipedia
3.1.2.1: We can deny the object and the predicates, but not just the predicates
3.1.2.1.1: Therefore, no existential proposition can express a necessary truth
Mental Connections:
---- Existence cannot be given in our concept of an object
3.1.2.1.1.1: Existential propositions are synthetically true, if they are true at all
Attachments:
Analytic and synthetic truth
4: Plantinga's modal version
Attachments:
The analytic theist
Vurtual Plantinga library
Graham Oppy on Plantinga's argument
Modal logic article in Wikipedia
Plantinga's argument explained
4.1: If God's existence is possible, it is actual in some possible world
Attachments:
Wikipedia on possible worlds
5: Final assessment
5.1: Outstanding questions
5.1.1: Is existence a predicate?
5.1.2: Which version of the argument is the most powerful?
5.1.3: Does any version of the argument succeed?
Summary of Mental Connections in map:
Existence cannot be given in our concept of an object -> -> Therefore, no existential proposition can express a necessary truth
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