{"id":4260,"date":"2018-09-06T05:16:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T05:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maverickphilosopher.blog\/index.php\/2018\/09\/06\/from-the-mailbag-the-ontological-argument\/"},"modified":"2018-09-06T05:16:03","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T05:16:03","slug":"from-the-mailbag-the-ontological-argument","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maverickphilosopher.blog\/index.php\/2018\/09\/06\/from-the-mailbag-the-ontological-argument\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Mailbag: The Ontological Argument"},"content":{"rendered":"

P. M. writes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
Thank you for your work on the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God.  I would really appreciate if you could answer some of my questions that are bulleted below:<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
You discuss the following Ontological Argument in your paper: "Has the ontological argument been refuted?." Religious studies<\/em> 29.1 (1993): 97-110. <\/span><\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  1. If the concept of an x is internally coherent, then an x exists in some possible world.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The concept of the GCB is internally coherent.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Therefore, the GCB exists in some possible world. (1, 2)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Either the GCB is impossible (exists in no world) or the GCB is necessary (exists in all worlds).<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Therefore, the GCB is necessary. (3, 4)<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Therefore, the GCB actually exists. (5) <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    (Where GCB is of course the "Greatest Conceivable Being").
    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n