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ontological argument |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.09 sec. |
ontological argumentArgument that proceeds from the idea of God to the reality of God. It was first clearly formulated by St. Anselm in his Proslogion (1077–78); a later famous version is given by René Descartes. Anselm began with the concept of God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived. To think of such a being as existing only in thought and not also in reality involves a contradiction, since a being that lacks real existence is not a being than which none greater can be conceived. A yet greater being would be one with the further attribute of existence. Thus the unsurpassably perfect being must exist; otherwise it would not be unsurpassably perfect. This is among the most discussed and contested arguments in the history of thought. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Descartes proves God by a version of the old ontological argument, that from the sheer idea of God, if properly thought, his existence necessarily follows. Thus Descartes's ontological argument produces a self-evident and self-verifying subject, the subject that "knows" and identifies itself first and then rests all subsequent knowledge on the basis of that first identification that in turn can only be guaranteed metaphysically. She adds,"The authors dissect the nature of belief,prayer,vicarious atonement, biblical claims, the preachments of Jesus, and ontological arguments. |
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