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The Ontological Argument

             Suppose that the greatest conceivable being (GCB) exists in the mind alone (and not in reality). This is simply to assume that if an Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnibenevolent God exists He would exist in the mind only. Existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone. Just like one hundred dollars in reality is greater than one hundred dollars in one's mind; because one hundred dollars in one's mind can't buy any Big Mac's. In short, reality is greater than understanding. We can conceive of a GCB that exists in reality as well as in the mind. Every person should be able to get a mental image in their mind of a greatest conceivable being existing in both reality and in their heads. Therefore, there is a being that is greater than the greatest conceivable being. But this is impossible, for it is a contradiction.
             It is a contradiction because originally, it was said that the greatest conceivable being exists in the mind alone. If there is a being that is greater than the greatest conceivable being, than it wouldn't be the greatest anymore. Since this is a contradiction, it is false that a GCB exists in the mind alone and not in reality.
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             There are many problems with this argument. The first problem, and the most obvious is the language. This argument is poorly worded and confusing. Another problem is that using the same structure provided, one may prove the existence of the perfect island, when we know that it does not exist.
             The word "greater" is used throughout this argument. Pay close attention to the tense of the word because it is not greatest, it is greater that is being misused. Particularly in these sentences: "Existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone." And "Therefore, there is a being that is greater than the greatest conceivable being." In this context, "greater" is being used like I've never seen it being used before. While it is still comparative, like in other forms of the word I've seen, it seems as if a completely new definition of the word would have to be written for it to be used here.


Essays Related to The Ontological Argument

1. Ontological Argument

Outline the Ontological argument for the existence of God and consider the view that, while it may strengthen a believer's faith, it has no value for the non-believer. The word "ontology" is a Greek word relating to the concept of being. The ontological argument itself therefore an a priori argument that argues the existence of God by saying that He must necessarily exist. ... Iris Murdoch also pointed out that the ontological argument is not simply a piece of logic, but something that points to a spiritual reality that transcends any limited idea of God. ... He says of the ontologica...

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2. The Ontological Argument

"The Ontological Argument" In Saint Anselm and Gaunilo's "The Ontological Argument", Anselm believes that God is the greatest of all conceivable things and nothing else can be thought to exist greater than God. ... Anselm sets up an ontological argument to prove the existence of God. ... Anselm's ontological argument. ... Anselm first interpreted this ontological argument, it was no surprise to that some one would say that his argument was flawed. ... It could be possible to turn this ontological argument into a mathematical equation to find just how flawless the argument is. ...

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  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Ontological Argument - The Existence of god

The Ontological Argument Immanuel Kant stated that there were types of arguments to prove the existence of God; The Cosmological Argument, which is based on the general fact of the existence of the world, The Teleological Argument, which is based on particular features of design in the world And The Ontological Argument, which is based on reason alone. The Ontological Argument is based on the very being of God. ... The Ontological Argument is also an "A priori" argument, meaning that it uses logic to prove that an initial definition is true. The Ontological Argument (ontos mea...

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4. Rebuttal to Anselm's Ontological Argument

Anselm‟s Ontological Argument is certainly one of the most famous arguments in the history of philosophy. ... In this paper, I will briefly present the Ontological Argument and will demonstrate prominent objections made by Gaunilo, Malcolm, and Craig and Moreland to evaluate the validity and soundness of the Anselm‟s Argument. ... He formulates the argument in two parts; "What is God?" ... If we do not attribute greatness to existence of a being, then the premise that existence in reality is greater than existence in the understanding becomes unsound, and the ontological argument fails. ....

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5. The Final Proof

These theories of thoughts are, the Cosmological, the Teleological, and the Ontological argument. ... If there was ever an argument on the existence of God that has strongly withstood centuries of criticism it has been the Ontological argument. The Ontological argument established by St. ... Finally, as noted earlier the Ontological argument is an a priori argument. This, however, is what makes the Ontological argument so weak. ...

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6. On Descartes Ontological Argument And How It Doesn't Work

In Descartes fifth meditation he tried to use a proof of God's existence that is known as the ontological argument. ... Kant's argument against the ontological is based in predication. ... Since I can think of no thing there is no impossibility, in the case of the ontological argument, the impossibility of God not existing. ... If I were to say that an object exists in the world I would have to have some experience of it, I could not justify its existence with a priori knowledge, as the ontological argument shows that we do, and we have shown through predication is not possible. ...

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7. Chapter 2. of Ontological Argument

Chapter 2: That God truly exists First of all, to fully understand this perplexing argument, you must strongly believe the definition of God St. ... The second idea you must believe, in order to fully understand the argument, is, it is greater to exist than not to exist. ... Anselm's ontological argument. ... Saint Anselm's point in his argument for the existence of God is clear cut and simple to understand. ... For one who already believes in God, this argument is meaningful and easy to accept, yet for the non-believer difficulties in acceptance can be overcome by St. ...

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8. does god exist

These arguments are either a priori, understood independent of worldly experience and observation (Ontological Argument), or a posteriori, dependent on experience and based on observations of how the world is (Cosmological and Teleological Arguments). For my first basis for the existence of God I will use the a posteriori, ontological arguments. Ontological arguments are a priori, which show that God exists without appealing to a sense experience. These ontological arguments argue about what God is to where he is from. ... Anselm, the creator of the ontological argument, based his theory ...

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9. Theistic Therories

The cosmological argument is broken down into two sections, the finistc first-cause argument and the infinitary first-cause argument. ... Ontological Argument Although there are many versions of the ontological argument, the basic characteristic of the ontological argument is that it derives the actuality of God through mere concept, or definition of God. Kurtz (1991) provides an example of the Ontological Argument: a) "I have an idea of "a being of which none greater can be conceived". ... The Ontological Argument Although in this argument there is no specific reference, in premises o...

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