(December 12, 2015 at 5:29 pm)athrock Wrote:(December 12, 2015 at 2:28 pm)IATIA Wrote:
- It is possible that a Leprechaun exists.
- If it is possible that a Leprechaun exists, then a Leprechaun exists is some possible world.
- If a Leprechaun exists in some possible world, then it exists in every possible world.
- If a Leprechaun exists in every possible world, then it exists in the actual world.
- If a Leprechaun exists in the actual world, then a Leprechaun exists.
- Therefore, a Leprechaun exists.
Leprechauns (or any other thing commonly used to parody this argument) are not commonly thought to have the same characteristics that are attributed by definition to a supreme being. These characteristics include omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence and so forth. And these are necessary for a being to be "maximally great".
If you do wish to claim that a leprechaun (or, for that matter) does have ALL of these, then I submit that all you have done is to assign a name of sorts to the supreme being.
Yahweh, Allah, Baha'u'llah, Zeus, Osiris...the name changes, but the being behind the name is the same. Provided that all the "omni" characteristics are present in that being.
Nothing in that argument suggests that a god must exist. I changed nothing but the entity and it is as 'valid' as the original argument. One of the tests of logic is whether or not it can maintain the conclusion. As no properties are assigned to this "maximally great' entity then any entity can be substituted and the failure of the original argument becomes apparent.
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
