ST THOMAS AQUINAS' ARGUMENT FROM PERFECTION, GOODNESS OR VALUE, a.k.a. ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (IV)
(1) We rank things as more or less perfect, or good or valuable.
(2) If this ranking is false and meaningless, then souls don't really have any more perfection than slugs.
(3) Therefore, there must be an ultimate standard of perfection for this ranking or all our value judgments are meaningless.
(4) Our value judgments are not meaningless.
(5) God is the ultimate standard of perfection.
(6) Therefore, God exists.
(1) We rank things and we disagree about perfection and value. Our ranking is subjective.
(2) If my ranking of perfection is not the ultimate truth then my soul has less perfection than a slug.
(3) Therefore, my ranking of perfection must be the ultimate standard and all other value judgements must be meaningless.
(4) My standard of perfection is not meaningless, therefore it is the ultimate standard.
(5) My God is the ultimate standard of perfection.
(6) Therefore, only my God exists.
Aquinas : "Muhammad seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom."
(1) We rank things as more or less perfect, or good or valuable.
(2) If this ranking is false and meaningless, then souls don't really have any more perfection than slugs.
(3) Therefore, there must be an ultimate standard of perfection for this ranking or all our value judgments are meaningless.
(4) Our value judgments are not meaningless.
(5) God is the ultimate standard of perfection.
(6) Therefore, God exists.
(1) We rank things and we disagree about perfection and value. Our ranking is subjective.
(2) If my ranking of perfection is not the ultimate truth then my soul has less perfection than a slug.
(3) Therefore, my ranking of perfection must be the ultimate standard and all other value judgements must be meaningless.
(4) My standard of perfection is not meaningless, therefore it is the ultimate standard.
(5) My God is the ultimate standard of perfection.
(6) Therefore, only my God exists.
Aquinas : "Muhammad seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom."
God thinks it's fun to confuse primates. Larsen's God!
