The Ontological Argument Aim: To explore the attributes of God. To know the key attributes of God. To be able to identify some of the problems with trying to describe God. To consider problems that the attributes themselves raise.

 Read the description of God and underline all the attributes given in the description, making sure you understand the terms you have underlined. “For a thousand years or more, God was described in terms derived from ancient Greek philosophy. Indeed, in Philosophy of Religion courses, God is still usually described in these terms. God was said to be an unmoved mover, eternal, all-knowing and transcendent. Traditionally God is seen as a perfect mind whose knowledge of past and future is total. Draw a straight line across the page. Mark the beginning as the first day of Creation, mark the end as the Day of Judgment. Somewhere in the line (probably closer to the end than to the beginning), mark "now." This represents time from Creation to the Last Day. We can take this line in all at once, just by standing back from the page. Well, then, that is the way God is said to see the whole history of universe, "all at once." On this description, God must be beyond the universe and outside of time, just as we must be beyond the line in order to "take it in all at once." The term "eternity,“ then applies to God. In the strict sense, refers to being entirely outside of time; it also includes not being subject to change, for only things in time can change.” Jan Garret

The ontological argument concludes that God must exist from the definition of God.

Problems with describing God.

Match the attribute to the meaning Match the attribute to the meaning. Then read them through; what problems do you notice with the attributes themselves?

Write: -one attribute of God Write: -one attribute of God. -one problem with describing God -one problem with the attribute you have chosen.

Aim: To explore the classical Ontological Argument. Anselm’s Proslogian 2 Aim: To explore the classical Ontological Argument. To be able to explain Anselm’s argument (Proslogian 2) To consider the meaning of key quotes from the Proslogian

What is the greatest thing a human can imagine? Do atheists need a definition of God? Why/why not? Is it possible to conceive of anything greater than God? What would be better imagining you were given £1000 or the reality of being given £1000?

Anselm’s definition of God “that than which nothing greater can be conceived” Anselm’s argument is based around this concept. He puts forward the ontological argument in his book “Proslogion”. The book’s aim is to shows why atheism is wrong- the atheist is the book is called “the fool”.

A summary of Anslem’s Proslogion Chapter 2. …By defining God as “something than which nothing greater can be conceived”. God then exists in understanding, since we understand this concept. But if God only exists in understanding, then something greater can be conceived as, as a being which exists in reality is greater than an imaginary one. But then it is possible to conceive of something greater than that which nothing greater can be conceived. This is impossible- so God must exist in reality. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy.

Quotes from Proslogion:Chapter 2 “And assuredly, that than which nothing greater can be conceived cannot exist in the understanding alone: then it can be conceived to exist in reality, which is greater.” “We believe that thou art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.” “The Fool has said in his heart, there is no God. But, at any rate, this very fool, when he hears of this being of which I speak - a being than which nothing greater can be conceived - understands what he hears, and what he understands is in his understanding; although he does not understand it to exist.”

Anselm’s Proslogian 3 Aim: To explore the classical Ontological Argument. To know the Anselm’s argument from Proslogian 3 To be able to explain Anselm’s argument To consider what is meant by the idea of necessary existence

In Proslogian 3 Anselm develops his argument by adding to his definition of God. He goes on to say that God is a necessary being. What does this mean? Using these words and phrases: The First cause Creator Eternal Transcendent Try to express what you think he might have meant by this.

Anselm’s argument from Proslogian 3 By definition, God is a being than which none greater can be imagined, and a being who is necessary. A being that necessarily exists in reality is greater than a being that does not necessarily exist. Thus, by definition, if God exists as an idea in the mind but does not necessarily exist in reality, then we can imagine something that is greater than God. But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God. Thus, if God exists in the mind as an idea, then God necessarily exists in reality. Therefore, God necessarily exists in reality.

Look at the explanation Anselm’s second argument from the Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. From it choose two quotes copy them down and explain them. “This version of the argument relies on two important claims. As before, the argument includes a premise asserting that God is a being than which a greater cannot be conceived. But this version of the argument, unlike the first, does not rely on the claim that existence is a perfection; instead it relies on the claim that necessary existence is a perfection. This latter claim asserts that a being whose existence is necessary is greater than a being whose existence is not necessary. Otherwise put, then, the second key claim is that a being whose non-existence is logically impossible is greater than a being whose non-existence is logically possible.”