Concepts of aConcepts of aHigher Being Higher Being

Arguments for God Ontological, Cosmological and Teleological

The philosophy of religion examines the nature of religion,explores rational arguments for and against variousreligious views, analyses the nature of religious language andexplores the variety of human religious experience. Thistheme allows students to explore philosophically suchquestions as:

In short In short

Ontological: God is defined as the perfect being. Existence is more perfect than non-existence. Therefore, God exists. (St. Anselm, Descartes)

Cosmological: Every even has a cause. The universe is an event. Therefore the universe has a cause, God. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Teleological: All complex things have a designer. The universe is complex. Therefore it has a designer, God. (Willam Paley).

The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument

St. Anselm argued that we can deduce theexistence of God from the idea of God.

Just from thinking that about what God is,we can conclude that God exists.

Therefore the ability to conceive theidea of God, supports the fact that Godexists.

The argument The argument

Anselm’s argument relies on conceivability

1.By definition, God is a being greater than which cannot be conceived.

2.I can conceive of such a being.3.It is greater to exist than to not exist.4.Therefore God must exist.

Key pointsKey points

The ontological argument is a priori; itworks from the analysis of the idea of God,not from any fact or experience. Also calledrational thinking.

Anselm’s argument takes for granted theidea that God is the greatest conceivableBeing. Our capacity to conceive the idea of God makes God’s existence logical.

The conclusion of the ontological argument isthat God necessarily exists.

Descartes version- Descartes version- Meditations Meditations

1. I have an idea of supremely perfect being, i.e. a being having all perfections.2. Necessary existence is a perfection.3. Therefore, a supremely perfect being exists.

‘Essence entails existence’.

The cosmological argument The cosmological argument

A medieval Christian thinker called ThomasAquinas wrote:

‘In the cosmos is it obvious that some things change. Now,whatever changes must have been changed by something

else. And if that something else in turn changes then it must have been changed by another. But this cannot go on to

infinity… you eventually have to arrive at something that isunchanging. This is God!’

The cosmological argument is an argument from natural theology; the view that we can understand the nature and existence of God through his work in creation. Which is accessible to all humans,

through experience, rather than through reason.

The argument The argument

1. Nothing can happen by itself2. Everything that happens must be caused

by something else.3. The universe could not have just

‘happened’ by itself. 4. A very powerful force must have caused

it into being.5. This cause must have been God.6. This means that God must exist!

The teleological argumentThe teleological argument

The teleological theory is often called theargument for design. It is based onobservation of the apparent order in theuniverse and the natural world, to concludethat it is not the result of mere chance, butof design. The argument makes the basic assumptionthat there is order and design in theuniverse, and that all things function tofulfill a specific purpose.

The argument The argument

1. The world is so well ordered and everything is balanced to sustain life. The world is so beautiful and complex, with interdependent parts making a whole.

2. This complex world must therefore have been designed.

3. If it is designed, it must have a designer. 4. The only being powerful enough to design

the universe is God.5. So God must therefore exist.

Task Task

1. Read the material for ONE of the arguments for God (including criticisms)

2. In groups discuss what you have read.3. Answer the following question:

Define the argument for the existence ofGod and discuss its strengths and

weaknesses.