1. The Ontological Argument: An Introduction
12 September 2018
Starter Task:
What is greater?
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

2. A priori or a posteriori knowledge?
This triangle has 3 sides.
(a priori)
The nearest station to Latimer is Kettering station.
(a posteriori)
The sun will rise tomorrow.
The apple I am going to eat for lunch is a fruit.
Jesus was the son of God.
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

3. Write down three examples of each
A priori – a proposition based on a definition and the use of logic alone, no experience needed.
A posteriori – a proposition based upon experience alone.
Write down three examples of each
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

4. A definition of God
Take a couple of minutes to think of a definition of God.
Make a list of the attributes of the attributes of God.
Would your God have to exist as part of it’s definition?
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

5. Perfection = ?

6. Anselm says God is “that than which nothing greater can be conceived”
“you can’t imagine anything greater than God”
“God is perfect in every way”

7. Anselm Says: + If God is perfect in every way he must exist in reality
If he existed only in the mind we could imagine a more perfect God – one that existed in the mind and in reality
God +
God

8. Ontological Argument in a nutshell
Something is greater if it exists than if it doesn’t.
If God is the greatest thing imaginable, he must exist. For if he didn’t, you could imagine something greater – something with all his qualities, but which did actually exist.
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

9. Inductive and deductive arguments
Experience
Teleological
Cosmological
Moral
All the other arguments for the existence of God are inductive – they can at best only give a highly probable conclusion.
Inductive arguments are based upon a posteriori knowledge
– knowledge derived from (after) experience.
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God

10. Inductive/deductive cont’d…
A deductive argument is based upon a priori knowledge.
The conclusion is implied directly by the premises, i.e. flows directly from them.
If the premises are true and the structure is valid, then the conclusion must be true.
The Ontological Argument is the only deductive argument for the existence of God.
→ This means ontological arguments are the only arguments that could…
prove God’s existence conclusively

11. http://www. youtube. com/watch
Learning Outcomes:
ALL will be able to explain the Ontological argument.
MOST will be able to analyse the strengths and weakness of the ontological argument
SOME will be able to explain the significance of the ontological argument in the context of the other arguments for the existence of God