PHIL 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Ontological Argument

• School: Cal Poly
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 230
• Professor: Frank E.Pilling

Document Summary

The concept of god includes god actual existence. Essence vs existence: what is necessarily included in the concept of the thing, accidental property. Properties that aren"t necessary to the being what it is: existence can"t be separated from essence. Because the essence of god is perfect, god cannot lack existence. God"s existence necessarily belongs to his essence. Descartes ontological argument for god"s reality: the idea of god is the idea of a being who is perfect in every way, existence is perfection, therefore god exists. 2a. existence makes perfect anything that has existence. 2b. existence is required to be perfect is every way. God, who is the topic of the idea of god, is a being perfect in every way. The idea of god is one such that in order for it ot be applied to a being that being must be perfect in every way.