Epistemology Revision

How does indirect realism lead to scepticism about the nature of the external world?

Epistemology Revision

Responses: Sense data tell us of ‘relations’ between objects

(Russell)

The distinction between primary and secondary qualities (Locke)

THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT: LEIBNIZ, MALCOLM AND

PLANTINGA

Philosophy of Religion

Today’s lesson

We will review previous learning, especially objections to Descartes

You will learn how to explain Leibniz’s ontological argument and additional ideas from Malcolm and Plantinga

Discussion

Both Anselm and Descartes argue that it is contradictory to state that ‘God does not exist’ because existence is included in the very concept of God.

What do you think, is ‘God does not exist’ a contradiction?

Objections to Descartes

Hume:‘All existential statements are

synthetic’

Kant:‘Existence is not

a predicate’

The argument doesn’t prove that

a perfect being actually exists

p.25-26

Vardy Video

Norman Malcolm

Vardy video What is Malcolm’s argument?

Why do philosophers compare mathematics to God?

Vardy seems to suggest that if something is real for you then this is enough – do you agree?

Additional ideas from Leibniz, Malcolm and Plantinga

Leibniz:Principle of non-

contradiction

Malcolm:God’s existence

is necessary

Plantinga: Possible worlds

and maximal excellence

p.26-27

Review

Lesson 3:

Leibniz Malcolm / Plantinga

Lesson 2:

Descartes Hume / Kant

Lesson 1:

Anselm Gaunilo

Ontological Argument

Arguments for Arguments against