God's existence is contained in his concept

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Parent debateThis argument is used in the debate Does God exist?.
Argument forThis argument is a “pro” argument in the debate Does God exist?.
Keywords: God, Ontological argument[ edit ].

SummarySummary

By definition, God is perfect. If God is perfect, then he lacks nothing: he enjoys all attributes, including that of existing. Therefore, God exists.

QuotationsQuotes

“The fool himself is therefore forced to admit that there is, at least in the intelligence, something above which thought can conceive nothing, since when he hears about this supreme being, whoever he may be, he understands what he hears, and that everything that is understood exists in the intelligence. Now, this supreme being, above which thought can conceive nothing, cannot exist in intelligence alone; for, supposing this to be the case, there is nothing to prevent us from conceiving it as also existing in reality, which is a mode of existence superior to the first. If, then, the supreme being existed in intelligence alone, there would be something that thought could conceive of above it; it would no longer be the being par excellence, which implies contradiction. There is therefore without doubt, both in intelligence and in reality, a being above which thought can conceive nothing.”

Anselme, Proslogion.

ReferencesReferences

Arguments forJustifications

  • Argument forMathematician Kurt Gödel formalized an ontological proof of God's existence
  • Argument forIt's logically irrational to say that God doesn't exist

Arguments againstObjections

  • Argument againstGod's perfection does not imply his existence
  • Argument againstExistence is not a predicate
  • Argument againstThe existence of God cannot be demonstrated conceptually
  • Argument againstThe argument is circular, because to be perfect, you have to be

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