Learning activity 1

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Western University *

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2200

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Philosophy

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Apr 3, 2024

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7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 1/20 Introduction In Learning Activity 1.3, you explored the biggest metaphysical question of all existence; “What constitutes reality?” In this learning activity, you will explore and connect two more specific questions of existence, namely “Does a Supreme Being (God) exist?” and “Who am I?” You will have the chance to explore and consider a variety of sources to help you understand and appreciate the variety of answers to these questions, and what they might mean for your life. As you proceed through the learning activity, you will use a series of charts to summarize your research and provide your reflections. What you will learn After completing this learning activity, you will be able to: recognize the influence that ideas related to metaphysics have on your everyday life differentiate between systems of belief or “isms” summarize and critically assess arguments both for and against a Supreme Being examine personal identity and the concept of mind through the lens of dualism and materialism

7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 2/20 Is there a God? After all the talk about existence and reality, it is not difficult to wonder where all existence came from. Did existence just happen? Did someone or something create it? Is there a God? For many, these kinds of metaphysical questions and the answers found for them are at the heart of determining one’s place and the ultimate meaning in the universe. The questions surrounding the existence of a Supreme Being or God have a long history in philosophy and other disciplines. The main difference between disciplines is how each attempts to answer the questions using reason and logic. You will have the opportunity to explore some of the more famous philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God. But first you should get your brain activated with some activities and get acquainted with some of the terminology and “isms” surrounding these big questions. Explaining God Coming up with a definition may seem an impossible task, but philosophers and theologians have tried to do so by presenting arguments relating to or requiring a Supreme Being.

7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 3/20 Notebook Definitions can be extremely tricky, and perhaps none as tricky as the definition of God. Take a moment and try to define God. After providing your response, get ready to apply your definition and reflections in the philosophical game “ Battleground God (../assets/locker_docs/hzt4u_4_battleground_god.pdf? _&d2lSessionVal=bkbGgJ9T7kZKNN6LW0WJnzNCA&ou=22446979) ” or “ Battleground God (accessible version) (../assets/locker_docs/hzt4u_04.01.100acc.html?ou=22446979) .” Did you enjoy that experiment? Did you learn anything interesting about your thoughts and reflections on your conception of God? Did you notice how well the game exemplifies the philosophical habits of rationality and logical consistency? Now it’s time to add some structure to discussions of the existence of God. Getting familiar with systems of belief The answers surrounding the question of the existence of God are many and can be sorted out and categorized through the various systems of belief, or “isms.” It is a good idea to get acquainted with these terms as they are often misused or misunderstood in public forums. As an apprentice philosopher, you need to have a correct understanding of them. Finding the meaning of the godly “isms” Do some research on your own to find definitions for each of the following systems of belief so that you grasp their subtleties. theism deism monotheism polytheism agnosticism

7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 4/20 atheism A knowledge check of what you learned comes next. Knowledge check Match the correct description to each system of belief. Submit select: Atheism select: Deism select: Monotheism select: Theism select: Agnosticism select: Polytheism Arguments for a Supreme Being Now that you’ve got an idea about the various theories or systems of belief that address the question “Is there a God?”, it is time to consider some of the traditional arguments for and against the existence of a Supreme Being or God.

7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 5/20 As you go through the arguments, you should also fill out the “ Arguments for a Supreme Being (../assets/locker_docs/hzt4u_04_for_supreme_being.pdf? _&d2lSessionVal=bkbGgJ9T7kZKNN6LW0WJnzNCA&ou=22446979) ” chart, a handy way to organize your learning. Note that you will submit your completed chart along with your other learning activity assignments at the end of Learning Activity 1.5. Ontological argument The ontological argument is unique as it tries to prove by deduction that God exists, relying entirely on the logical connections of concepts. Remember, deductive proofs require no empirical evidence, so just as you don’t need to verify that square circles exist, if you can deductively prove that God exists, to believe otherwise would be a contradiction of logic. This argument, most famously proposed by St. Anselm and argued by the likes of Ibn Sina, Descartes, and Spinoza, among others, requires very clear and comprehensive definitions of terms to work. As you found out in the philosophical game earlier, it can be very challenging to define a concept like a Supreme Being or God. Each philosopher defines God in a slightly different way, but the idea of the argument remains pretty much the same. In the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Kenneth Einar Himma lays out St. Anselm’s definition of the ontological argument and then provides a helpful summary. Examine both the definition and summary before going to the “Your critique” tab and providing your thoughts. St. Anselm's Ontological Argument  St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury (1033–1109), is the originator of the ontological argument, which he describes in the Proslogium as follows: [Even a] fool, when he hears of … a being than which nothing greater can be conceived … understands what he hears, and what he understands is in his understanding.… And assuredly that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone. For suppose it exists in the understanding alone: then it can be conceived to exist in reality; which is greater.… Therefore, if that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, exists in the understanding alone, the very being, than which nothing greater can be conceived, is one, than which a greater can be conceived. But

7/4/23, 1:51 AM Learning activity 1.4: Getting into a metaphysical argument https://course.ilc.tvo.org/content/enforced/22446979-HZT4U-EN-01-02-ON-(I-D-0922)/course_content/lessons/hzt4u_u1la4.html?ou=22446979&d2l_… 6/20 obviously this is impossible. Hence, there is no doubt that there exists a being, than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality. Source: Himma, K. E. (n.d.). Anselm: Ontological Argument for the God’s Existence. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/anselm-ontological-argument/ Summary  The argument in this difficult passage can accurately be summarized in standard form: 1. It is a conceptual truth (or, so to speak, true by definition) that God is a being than which none greater can be imagined (that is, the greatest possible being that can be imagined). 2. God exists as an idea in the mind. 3. A being that exists as an idea in the mind and in reality is, other things being equal, greater than a being that exists only as an idea in the mind. 4. Thus, if God exists only as an idea in the mind, then we can imagine something that is greater than God (that is, a greatest possible being that does exist). 5. But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God (for it is a contradiction to suppose that we can imagine a being greater than the greatest possible being that can be imagined.) 6. Therefore, God exists. Source: Himma, K. E. (n.d.). Anselm: Ontological Argument for the God’s Existence. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/anselm-ontological-argument/ Your critique 

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