Essay on The Proof of the Existence of God - 1423 Words

The Proof of the Existence of God There are many arguments that try to prove the existence of God. In this essay I will look at the ontological argument, the cosmological argument, empirical arguments such as the avoidance of error and the argument from design. There are many criticisms of each of these that would say the existence of God can’t be proven that are perhaps stronger than those saying it can be. The definition of God for which is being argued is the Christian God who has the qualities of being perfect and who created the universe. The ontological argument follows that God id perfect and no greater being is imaginable. If God did not exist, he would not be the greatest being†¦show more content†¦Descartes argues that the definition of property is an attribute, something that the entity possesses (Ayer. A.J. 1973). God posses the property of existence. The ontological argument argues that God’s existence is necessary and an inseparable quality of the perfect being just like 180o is inseparable from a triangle. But another more logical way of looking at this is that the concept of existence is inseparable from the concept of the Supreme Being. It doesn’t follow that existence is actual in the real world (At VII99; CSM 1172, as cited in Cottingham. J. 1986). Another example used to try and support the existence of God can be proven is Super Pegasus. A horse has the property of existence. Pegasus is a winged horse, and Super Pegasus is a winged horse with the property of existence. But lo oking at this closely it forms a catch 22 situation on itself. As if Super Pegasus existed then there would be no such thing as Pegasus. But Super Pegasus can’t exist without the idea of Pegasus first. Also, another argument which I will look at in more detail later is that everything has a cause and is caused by something which is equal or greater than it. If this were the case then even the idea Super Pegasus would need to be formed from an idea of something equal to or greater than it, which Pegasus is not. This example leads on to the ‘overload objection’. That is that if existence is aShow MoreRelatedAnselm and the proof for the existence of God1129 Words   |  5 Pagesideas of the existence of God but there was one common thing that everyone knew, God existed. Although everyone agreed that God existed, philosophers such Anselm tried to prove Gods existence anyway. In the passage Prosolgium, Anselm is trying to prove the existence of God to Ganilo by givin g two approaches. The goal of the dialog is to prove that the combination accepting that God exists and not believing that God exists is not possible. The conclusion of Anselms proofs are that God exists. InRead MoreThe Ontological Proof Of The Existence Of God1137 Words   |  5 PagesI will discuss the ontological proof of the existence of God. First, I will discuss what ontology is and how it connects to this proof about God. There are two kinds of proofs that are going to be talked about in this essay. The ontological proof was created by Anselm who made this argument that God does exist. To begin this discussion, ontology is a part of metaphysics and concerns itself with the nature of being. Ontology seeks to answer questions about existence, what’s real and what is not realRead MoreAnselm and the Proof for the Existence of God978 Words   |  4 Pagesobjections to his argument altogether. Anselms argument only relies on logical reasoning to prove that his proofs for the existance of God is correct. What makes his argument so strong is that he a â€Å"fool† or the athesists accepts the defintion in which Anselm gives to start the his argument. The argument is str enghtened by the languge that Anselm uses as he gives his argument and the proofs that he describes. Althoguh this seems like a great argumetn there have been many flaws that it contains andRead MoreDescartes Proof Of The Existence Of God1609 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most important ideas upon which Descartes’s proof of the existence of God rests is that rational minds face constraints. While God is the absolute infinite, humans and other beings exist with limitations on their actions. One of these limitations is human intellect, which Descartes names as one component of the cause of our tendency toward error as humans. The finite nature of human intellect, he argues, combines with an infinite will which causes us to seek an understanding of phenomenaRead MoreThe s Ontological Proof For The Existence Of God Essay1134 Words   |  5 Pagesontological proof for the existence of God. In an effort to gain a deeper knowledge and acquaintance with his creator, Anselm set o ut to logically deduce God’s existence from the very definition of God. In the Proslogion he writes, â€Å"God is that which a greater cannot be thought. Whoever understands this properly, understands that this being exists in such a way that he cannot, even in thought, fail to exist† (Anselm, 101). Anselm uses this definition as the fundamental argument for his proof of God’sRead MoreEssay on Descartes Proof For The Existence Of God1543 Words   |  7 Pages Descartes Proof for the Existence of God The purpose of my essay will be to examine Descartes’ argument for the existence of God. First, I will review Descartes’ proof for the existence of God. Then I will examine the reasons that Descartes has for proving God’s existence. I will also discuss some consequences that appear as a result of God’s existence. Finally, I will point out some complications and problems that exist within the proof. The basic problem with most religions in the world hasRead MoreEpistemology 5751: The Proof for Existence of God2976 Words   |  12 Pagesthat God exists. Atheists, on the contrary, do not have any such beliefs and this is the main reason why they are known to not follow any religion. Therefore, the main issue that will be discussed in this paper is pertaining to the existence of God and whether or not a person can be morally correct without being religious or without being a follower of a specific religion. Some of the other aspects, like the intersection of science and religion, will also be discussed in the paper. Proof for existenceRead MoreDescartes Proof for the Existence of God Essay3414 Words   |  14 PagesDescartes Proof for the Existence of God Many readers follow Descartes with fascination and pleasure as he descends into the pit of skepticism in the first two Meditations, defeats the skeptics by finding the a version of the cogito, his nature, and that of bodies, only to find them selves baffled and repulsed when they come to his proof for the existence of God in Meditation III. In large measure this change of attitude results from a number of factors. One is that the proof is complicatedRead MoreAquinas Five Proofs for the Existence of God1933 Words   |  8 Pagesreasoning of God. The existence, simplicity and will of God are simply a few topics which Aquinas explores in the Summa Theologica. Through arguments entailing these particular topics, Aquinas forms an argument that God has the ability of knowing and willing this particular world of contingent beings. The contrasting nature of necessary beings and contingent beings is at the heart of this debate. Aquinas sets up this argument in his discussion of whether or not God exists. His five proofs set upRead MoreKants Refutations of the Proofs of the Existence of God Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesKants Refutations of the Proofs of the Existence of God There are three types of proof for the existance of God: The Ontological Proof: God is the most perfect conceivable being. Existence is more perfect than non-existence. God by definition exists. The Cosmological Proof: Everything contingent must have a cause. If this cause is also contingent, then it too must also have a cause. This chain of causes and effects must have a beginning