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The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
Alot of assumptions in order to get to the desired conclusion.
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(January 22, 2016 at 5:06 pm)LadyForCamus Wrote: That's awesome!  I JUST read TGD for the first time a few months ago and I very much enjoyed it.  Do you have any other recommendations, or favorites, Evie?

Anything by Sam Harris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22cYcsVPOok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU6TkfCGlX8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i08oZmUXZ4
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(December 12, 2015 at 1:37 pm)athrock Wrote: I have never seen this argument before, so I'm interested in some discussion of it. A philosopher by the name of Alvin Plantinga states it this way:

The Ontological Argument

  1. It is possible that a maximally great being exists.
  2. If it is possible that a maximally great being exists, then a maximally great being exists is some possible world.
  3. If a maximally great being exists in some possible world, then it exists in every possible world.
  4. If a maximally great being exists in every possible world, then it exists in the actual world.
  5. If a maximally great being exists in the actual world, then a maximally great being exists.
  6. Therefore, a maximally great being exists.

Thoughts?

Every time I see a christer bring up an argument "proving" his particular gawd that starts with "It is possible..." I think of this:

Christer: It is possible that a maximally great being exists.

Me: Well, I guess, maybe. But, it's an insanly small chance.

Christer:[Image: So-Youre-Telling-Me-Theres-a-Chance-In-D...er-Gif.gif]
Thief and assassin for hire. Member in good standing of the Rogues Guild.
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(December 12, 2015 at 1:37 pm)athrock Wrote: I have never seen this argument before, so I'm interested in some discussion of it. A philosopher by the name of Alvin Plantinga states it this way:

The Ontological Argument

  1. It is possible that a maximally great being exists.
  2. If it is possible that a maximally great being exists, then a maximally great being exists is some possible world.
  3. If a maximally great being exists in some possible world, then it exists in every possible world.
  4. If a maximally great being exists in every possible world, then it exists in the actual world.
  5. If a maximally great being exists in the actual world, then a maximally great being exists.
  6. Therefore, a maximally great being exists.

Thoughts?
a) What does it mean to be "maximally great"? b) What does it mean to "exist"? (the thought of a "maximally great" circle exists... both in my intellect and in my imagination... but what does that mean? Does that satisfy the criteria of whatever it might mean for a "maximally great being" to "exist"?)
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
"Maximally great" is a childish concept. It's just a blatant attempt to leave no room for someone else to come along with a "bigger God".

It often gets forgotten that "God" could be virtually all powerful with respect to this reality, yet be quite normally powered in his own.

The only "evidence" we have is the reality it has supposedly created. And if you think this is the work of a maximally great being, you're very easily impressed.
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The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(February 4, 2016 at 11:28 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote:
(December 12, 2015 at 1:37 pm)athrock Wrote: I have never seen this argument before, so I'm interested in some discussion of it. A philosopher by the name of Alvin Plantinga states it this way:

The Ontological Argument

  1. It is possible that a maximally great being exists.
  2. If it is possible that a maximally great being exists, then a maximally great being exists is some possible world.
  3. If a maximally great being exists in some possible world, then it exists in every possible world.
  4. If a maximally great being exists in every possible world, then it exists in the actual world.
  5. If a maximally great being exists in the actual world, then a maximally great being exists.
  6. Therefore, a maximally great being exists.

Thoughts?

Every time I see a christer bring up an argument "proving" his particular gawd that starts with "It is possible..." I think of this:

Christer: It is possible that a maximally great being exists.

Me: Well, I guess, maybe. But, it's an insanly small chance.

Christer:[Image: So-Youre-Telling-Me-Theres-a-Chance-In-D...er-Gif.gif]

LMFAO! One of my, and the hubby's favorite movies of all TIME.
Nay_Sayer: “Nothing is impossible if you dream big enough, or in this case, nothing is impossible if you use a barrel of KY Jelly and a miniature horse.”

Wiser words were never spoken. 
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(February 4, 2016 at 9:08 pm)Helio Nimbus Wrote: Alot of assumptions in order to get to the desired conclusion.

Apparently, under S5 modal logic, only premise 1 is to be assumed for the argument to work.
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
You also have to assume the modal hook in 3. Get rid of the rest of it, look at 1 and 3 together...this is what must be assumed...and it's amusing, because it's also the conclusion, lol. 2, 4 5 and 6 are all tautologies of 1 or 3.
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(February 5, 2016 at 3:21 am)robvalue Wrote: "Maximally great" is a childish concept. It's just a blatant attempt to leave no room for someone else to come along with a "bigger God".
I have to disagree. I find the ontological argument, and the idea of perfection in general, quite intriguing... I don't know that I'd consider it an argument for "God" per se (the definition of god tends to include quite a few more things than simply perfection or maximal greatness or whatever), but as far as such arguments go, I think it may be the best.
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
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RE: The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
(February 5, 2016 at 11:44 am)Rhythm Wrote: You also have to assume the modal hook in 3.  Get rid of the rest of it, look at 1 and 3 together...this is what must be assumed...and it's amusing, because it's also the conclusion, lol. 2, 4 5 and 6 are all tautologies of 1 or 3.

Maximally great being is defined by Plantinga to be a necessary being. From what I've read, and I'm no expert when it comes to such logic, but it seems third premise must always be true for necessary entities.
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