THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

ANSELM (1033-1109)

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

1. God is that being than which nothing greater can be conceived.

2. It is one thing for an object to exist in the mind, and another thing to understand that an object actually exists.

3. It is greater for an object to exist both in the mind and in reality than for it to exist in the mind only.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

4. That being than which nothing greater can be conceived cannot exist in the mind only. For if it exists solely in the mind, it can be thought to exist in reality also, which is greater.

5. If then that being than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the mind only, something greater could be conceived (which is impossible).

6. Therefore there is absolutely no doubt that some being than which nothing greater can be conceived exists both in the mind and in reality.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

COSMOLOGICAL AND TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274)

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

1. In the world of sense, we find there are efficient causes.

2. There is no case known, nor indeed is it possible, in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself.

3. In efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, for if there is no first cause, there will be no effect nor further causes.

COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

4. Therefore it is necessary to admit there is a first efficient cause

5. To which everyone gives the name of God.

COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

1. Things that lack intelligence act for a certain purpose, since they always act in the same way so as obtain the best result.

2. It is plain that they achieve their end not by chance, but by design.

3. Whatever lacks intelligence cannot move toward an end, unless it is directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence.

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

4. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end.

5. And this being we call God.

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

MORAL ARGUMENT

IMMANUEL KANT (1724-1804)

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS

1. A human experience of morality is observed

2. God provides the best or only explanation for this moral experience

3. Therefore, God exists.

MORAL ARGUMENT