The Argument For God s Existence And Nature - 2146 Words

Question 2 In part IX of Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Deamea, the orthodox Christian, confronts Philo’s skepticism towards the arguments for God’s existence and nature that have thus far be discussed. Deamea presents a version of the ontological argument that he believes should provide undeniable proof of the truths found in religious dogma. However, Philo is not convinced with this argument because of the nature of the argument. Philo describes Deamea’s ontological argument as an a priori argument. In Latin a priori is means â€Å"from before† but when this term is used in philosophy it is meant to mean from before experience. These kinds of arguments are arguments that anyone can come to see as being true from the comfort of†¦show more content†¦These arguments argue for something through the use of empirical evidence. An example of a posteriori knowledge would be the statement, â€Å"Barack Obama is the current president of the Un ited States. This is an example of empirical information that cannot be proven through reason alone. The different viewpoints between a priori and a posteriori arguments can be seen in works for Thomas Aquinas and Anselm of Canterbury. Both Saints believe that God is self-evident. However, Aquinas uses a priori arguments and Anselm uses an a priori argument. I believe that Aquinas does not reject Anselm’s argument because it is a priori. Aquinas’ issues with Anselm’s argument lies in Anselm’s misuse of his definition of God and humanity’s inability to understand this definition. In his ontological argument, Anselm defines God as â€Å"that than which nothing greater can be thought.† According to Aquinas, this is where the main issue lies in Anselm’s argument. Aquinas believes that everyone must have the same concept of God in order for Anselm’s definition of God to work. Not everyone will define God as that than which nothing g reater can be thought. This definition is the basis of Anselm’s argument and if people cannot come to define God as Anselm did then the argument fails. Aquinas’ second issue with Anselm s ontological argument comes from the fact that even if everyone comes to accept God as thatShow MoreRelatedThere Are Two Main Issues In The Philosophy Of Religion1618 Words   |  7 Pagesof religion that focus on the existence of God. First and foremost, there are four arguments that describes the philosophy of religion which are cosmological arguments, ontological arguments and teleological arguments. Cosmological idea are empirical a posteriori arguments based on experience and sense perception. Our experience of the world shows God as the cause, creator or ultimate explanation of the word. Ontological concept are rational a posteriori arguments based on the pure reason, independentlyRead MoreKant And Anselm : Argument For God s Existence1142 Words   |  5 PagesYourFirstName Yo urLastName†¨Instructor s Name†¨Course Title†¨21 November 2016 Any Topic (Writer s Choice) Kant and Anselm: The Argument for God’s Existence Philosophers have for long debated on the existence of a Supreme all powerful and all perfect God, Kant, and Anselm being among them. Where Anselm has supported the presence of God and all the attributes that regard to the Him, Kant has risen up with a counter argument. The interaction between the two, the philosophical objection raised by KantRead MoreThe Argument Of The Existence Of God1480 Words   |  6 PagesThe arguments trying to â€Å"prove† the existence of God are by far some of the most controversial philosophical arguments out there. 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In the following I will commit myself to the above-mentioned question by firstly reconstructing Anselm ´s proof of God ´s existence and secondly considering his position in the light of the critiqueRead MoreDoes God Exist?1074 Words   |  5 PagesDoes God Exist ? 1. What role do arguments play in answering this question? I think arguments have played an important role in analyzing and understanding the depth of this question, for mankind. Although the question itself seems factual (either it does or it doesn t), yet no arguments have been able to answer this question conclusively, despite many debates going on for centuries. One possible reason for that inconclusiveness may lie in our intuition and the way, humans define God and existenceRead MoreDoes God Exist? : A Philosophical Argument For The Existence Of God1370 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God Exist? A Philosophical Argument for the Existence of God Does God Exist? 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At the beginning of the book, Sartre defends existentialism against several charges that had been laid against it. Throughout the book, Sartre refers to the basis of existentialism using the phrase ‘existence precedes essence . With this, phrase lies the basis for the argument that Existentialism is a HumanismRead MoreThe Ontological Argument Made By Anse lm1365 Words   |  6 Pagesontological argument made by Anselm was criticized by one of his contemporaries, a monk named Gaunilo, who said, that by Anselm s reasoning, one could imagine a certain island, more perfect than any other island, tf this island can exist in the mind, then according to Anselm, it would necessarily exist in reality, for a perfect island would have this quality. But this is obviously false; we cannot make things exist merely by imagining them. Anselm replied, upholding his argument by saying that