Essay on Varying Arguments for the Existence of God

ontological argument made by Anselm was criticized by one of his contemporaries, a monk named Gaunilo, who said, that by Anselm 's reasoning, one could imagine a certain island, more perfect than any other island, tf this island can exist in the mind, then according to Anselm, it would necessarily exist in reality, for a 'perfect ' island would have this quality. But this is obviously false; we cannot make things exist merely by imagining them. Anselm replied, upholding his argument by saying that

The 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes believed that God exists. His proof of an all perfect being’s existence was explained by having an idea of God that had to have been caused by God. But simply having an idea of God is not enough for there to necessarily exist such a being. This paper will critically examine Descartes’s causal argument though its premises and conclusion. Descartes makes an attempt to prove God’s existence throughout his third meditation. In his first premise he states

what remained from his doubting could be considered the truth. This lead Descartes to argue for the existence of God. For the purpose of this paper, I will first discuss Descartes’s argument for the existence of God. I will then take issue with Descartes’s argument first with his view on formal reality and varying levels of reality, then with his argument that only God can cause the idea of God. I will then conclude with Descartes argues that some ideas are more real than others. These ideas

Thomas Aquinas and Rene Descartes. Lastly, I will proceed to relate their ideas on the existence of God and their development of these ideas. St. Augustine 's epistemology is rationalization. In his argument for the existence of God, he is referring to varying degrees of perfection otherwise know as, an Ontological argument. He believed that in pursuing truth, it

Which argument for the existence of God is strongest? Why? An age-old debate that has existed in religious studies concerns which argument for the existence of God is the strongest. The existence of God is pervasive throughout the world, although the means with which people attempt to prove His existence varying in significant (and sometimes contrasting) ways. Although there have been myriad methods for proving God's existence, a central dispute concerns whether or not to use a rational approach

Aaron Schultz 7/30/16 Critical Response: Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae The existence of a higher being or a god is a concept that has endured for thousands of years. Religious teachings help people to cope with our own mortality as well as teaching valuable moral codes. Yet for all of the effort and the distinct establishment of religion, God is still an unknown entity and we have no way of knowing definitively of his existence. St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest religious thinkers of his time

influences in religion as well as many religious influences in many types of philosophies. Many figures in history have shaped both of these fields and contributed to them in many ways including belief systems regarding the nature of the world, human existence, and ethics. Many religious figures focused more on religious endeavors more than philosophical ones. Jesus of Nazareth and Gautama Buddha are two examples of spiritual figures who have religious followings even until this day. It should be pointed

Why God Exists The existence of God is a subject of debate in religion, popular culture, and philosophy. Before the explanation for God’s existence can be discussed, the church’s teachings on God’s existence and the faith of the Church must be talked about first. St Thomas Aquinas defended the existence of God by stating the Five Ways for his existence. They are the Argument from motion, the argument from efficient causes, the argument from possibility and necessity, the argument from gradation

Modern debates over religion, more specifically God, focus primarily on whether or not sufficient evidence exists to either prove or disprove the existence of a God. Disbelievers such as biologist Richard Hawkins tend to point to the indisputable facts of evolution and the abundance of scientific evidence which seem to contradict many aspects of religion. Conversely, believers such as Dr. A. E. Wilder-Smith describe the controversial aspects of science, and how the only possible solution to everything

reflected on us from innumerable objects” in nature. (Hume 1998). This paper will prove the existence of God using the teleological argument. There are various arguments that support teleology and the existence of God on different grounds. The arguments to follow examine these grounds, proving emphatically that God does exist. Teleology is the study of a thing’s purpose or design. This argument predates Christianity;