In this class we will ask ‘what is philosophy?’ in the hopes of defending the importance of this discipline for the individual and society. In this endeavor we shall trek through the history of philosophy while unpacking some of the major issues and problems in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic and politics. Furthermore we will address the perennial problems of the good life, personal identity, authenticity and social responsibility.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Ontological Defense
In class this week, we discussed ontological arguments for the existence of God. I like this argument because it implies that the very utterance of something means that it exists in some form. A mickey mouse with no ears does not exist, but to say it and imagine it, means that it exists as only a thought, but it does exist. That there is the idea of a being than which none greater can be concieved implies that the being exists. Since God is defined as a supreme being that exists in reality, there is no reality in which he does not exists. This makes it seem like arguments againsts the ontological argument could be dismissed and defended by using the appeal to ignorance. The inability to to disprove that God does exist proves the validity of the argument. Since the very definition of God a supreme being that exists in reality, there is no reality in which he does not exist.
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And the idea of "no god" can be imagined as well. As such both only prove the IDEA can exist in thought not necessarily in reality.
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