PHIL 347 Exam 2 |40 Accurate Q’s and A’s
What is the main claim of S5 modal logic that supports the ontological argument - -If it is
possible that it is necessary that P, then P is true
-Why was the ontological argument created? - -Created by Anselm as a way to attribute
higher qualities to God
-Structure of the modal ontological argument - -1. It's possible that God exists
2. God exists if and only if it is necessary that God exists
3. It is possible that it is necessary that God exists
4. For any proposition (P), if it is possible that it is necessary that P, then P is true
5. Hence God exists
-What makes an argument valid? - -There is a logically consistent inference/conclusion
from the premises
-What makes an argument sound? - -The argument is valid and all of its premises are true
-Graham Oppy's response to the modal ontological argument - -He rejects premise 1 to
claim that it is impossible that God exists
-Peter Van Inawagen's response to the modal ontological argument - -He believes that
Plantinga needs to provide a reason for premise 1 in order for the argument to be more
compelling
-Leah's Objection to the Modal ontological argument - -Possibility of an all evil being
-Andrew Irvine's objection to the Modal ontological argument - -He rejects S5 modal logic,
specifically the accessibility relation
-what is the accessibility relation in S5 modal logic? - -- the accessibility relation is the
assumption that necessities don't vary across worlds
- To say that P is necessary is to rule out that P could also be false
-Anselm's ontological argument - -1. God is by definition the being greater than which
cannot be conceived
2. Posit that God exists only in the mind
3. It would then follow that it were possible to conceive of a greater being, namely the being
greater than which exists also in reality
4. However, it is contradictory to to suppose that some object has both has and doesn't
have one of the same properties
5. Hence, God does not exist only in the mind
What is the main claim of S5 modal logic that supports the ontological argument - -If it is
possible that it is necessary that P, then P is true
-Why was the ontological argument created? - -Created by Anselm as a way to attribute
higher qualities to God
-Structure of the modal ontological argument - -1. It's possible that God exists
2. God exists if and only if it is necessary that God exists
3. It is possible that it is necessary that God exists
4. For any proposition (P), if it is possible that it is necessary that P, then P is true
5. Hence God exists
-What makes an argument valid? - -There is a logically consistent inference/conclusion
from the premises
-What makes an argument sound? - -The argument is valid and all of its premises are true
-Graham Oppy's response to the modal ontological argument - -He rejects premise 1 to
claim that it is impossible that God exists
-Peter Van Inawagen's response to the modal ontological argument - -He believes that
Plantinga needs to provide a reason for premise 1 in order for the argument to be more
compelling
-Leah's Objection to the Modal ontological argument - -Possibility of an all evil being
-Andrew Irvine's objection to the Modal ontological argument - -He rejects S5 modal logic,
specifically the accessibility relation
-what is the accessibility relation in S5 modal logic? - -- the accessibility relation is the
assumption that necessities don't vary across worlds
- To say that P is necessary is to rule out that P could also be false
-Anselm's ontological argument - -1. God is by definition the being greater than which
cannot be conceived
2. Posit that God exists only in the mind
3. It would then follow that it were possible to conceive of a greater being, namely the being
greater than which exists also in reality
4. However, it is contradictory to to suppose that some object has both has and doesn't
have one of the same properties
5. Hence, God does not exist only in the mind
