(December 12, 2015 at 5:56 pm)athrock Wrote: My point is that the common tactic used by folks who want to undermine the strength of this argument is to parody it by substituting something like "leprechauns" for "maximally great being". I was directed to do a bit of research, and in the course of some brief reading, I learned that some monk named Gaunilo attempted this by saying that a perfect island could be proven by this proof. But Gaunilo's own argument has flaws, too. And I think I just undermined the parody approach myself in the post you quoted.
Substitution is a valid operation to display the properties of an argument. Your argument works as well with "maximally great being" as it does with "leprechauns". You have made no statement to separate your "maximally great being" from a leprechaun. Who is to say that in some world the leprechaun is not the "maximally great being" anyway? Maybe there is nothing no more "maximally great" than a human being. You have provided no definition of this "maximally great being" nor is your definition likely to be accepted without proof that it exists, of course, in which case, this particular argument would no longer be necessary.
- If all dogs are mammals, then all dogs are animals.
- All dogs are mammals.
- Therefore, all dogs are animals.
- If all fish are mammals, then all fish are animals.
- All fish are mammals.
- Therefore, all fish are animals.
"I think god exists, therefore god exists" is no more valid than "I think faeries exist, therefore faeries exist" and that is all your argument states.
Your first statement or premise can be anything you like (I do not have to like it or believe it) as that is what you posit to prove. Your statement #2 takes liberty with MW scenario which, albeit has more evidence, is just as unfalsifiable (at this time) as your "maximally great being". Your #3 statement takes more liberties with a new premise that has yet to be established (and is not done within this argument). 4, 5 and 6 are fine once you fix 1, 2 and 3.
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
