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Assess the Ontological Argument

Decent Essays

08 Assess whether the ontological argument demonstrates the existence of God. (30 marks)

The ontological argument was first formulated by St. Anselm in the 11th century. It argues the existence of God from a deductive and a priori stance. God is a being than which none greater can be conceived. This is the response given by St Anselm to the fool in the psalm who believed there was no God. St Anselm the Archbishop of Canterbury and of the Benedictine Order explained that for God to exist in the mind he would not be the greatest being. However were God to exist in the mind and reality this would make a being ‘than which none greater can be conceived’, this means God must exist.

This demonstration for the existence of God was …show more content…

To evaluate the whole ontological arguments’ attempt to prove and demonstrate God’s existence, it is clear due to the deductive stance, it shouldn’t be argued as the conclusion drawn must be ‘God is a necessary being’, ‘God is a being than which none greater can be conceived’. But as soon as you understand that definition you will find that it could be used to prove the existence of many things and beings. The ontological argument proves the idea that if God exists he is going to be a necessary being, but it does not prove that he actually does exist. Therefore as Richard Dawkins would describe it ‘infinite, playground argument’ and does not demonstrate God’s existence.

REAL MARKS
AO1 - /9
AO2 - / 12
AO3 - / 9
TOTAL - /30.

YOUR MARKS
AO1 - /9
AO2 - / 12
AO3 - / 9
TOTAL - /30.

How could this be improved?

How could we conclude differently?

Are you reassured by this? Does the mark it got make

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