Is the ontological argument valid?
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The ontological argument, which asserts the existence of God based on the concept of a "most perfect being," has faced significant critiques from philosophers over time. discusses this on the , calling the argument largely unconvincing. He mentions that even though some find it compelling, most are not convinced by its logical structure. Carroll argues that defining a "most perfect being" is problematic, as our conceptions of perfection can be vague and varied 1.
from the elaborates further using Immanuel Kant's critique. Kant argued that existence is not a quality like color or shape that can amplify the concept of a being. He likened it to saying a banana is yellow, thin, calorie-dense, and exists, which seems incoherent. Moreover, West also cites Gaunilo's counterargument, which used the example of a perfect island to demonstrate that Anselm's logic could be misapplied to prove the existence of anything ideally conceived, revealing a fundamental flaw in the argument's structure 2.
In summary, while the ontological argument is an interesting philosophical exercise, it is generally regarded as logically flawed by many experts and philosophers. The critiques revolve around the issues of defining perfection and treating existence as a predicate or quality.
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