? Essay, Research Paper
Throughout history there have always been questions that we as humans are just unable to answer. The questions surrounding the topic of God seem to be ever elusive, just beyond our reach. The human race has made strides to answer these difficult questions. Unfortunately, as with all knowledge we find ourselves asking more difficult questions. The question of God’s existence can be considered one of the most difficult questions ever ask by a human being. Attempts have been made on both sides of the argument, but holes in everyone analyzation of this question has left us at a stalemate of sorts. Therefore, we have reached the point of trying more to disprove an argument rather than finding new proof of our own. While disproving an argument is a good thing, it has gotten us nowhere and we have been left without a positive answer to the question. In a sense, all someone does about the existence of God is split hairs and cause more frustration in their thinking.
But what are the arguments that have been presented? For without these, we are unable to draw conclusions ourselves. Maybe these argument provide adequate proof for some people. As such, we will take a look at some of the more noteworthy argument, on both sides, and briefly analyze them.
First off is the ontological argument. An ontological argument for the existence of God attempts to include the definition of the concept of God the fact that he exists. An example of this would be Anselm’s argument. Saint Anselm(1033-1109) was a Benedictine monk in Bec. At that time, Bec was one of the Great centers of learning in Europe. His book Proslogion contains his famous ontological argument. This argument was the first formal proof for the existence of God. His ideas state that God, by definition, is absolutely prefect. It is also more perfect to exist than to not exist. Therefore, to envision God is to envision God existing(this is because to conceive of God not existing is self-canceling). Thus, if one would say “God does not exist” one would be contradicting oneself. Because of this, Anselm believed, the Existence of God must be true. On the other side of this argument, it is widely believed that definitions do not necessarily mean that that something exists. For example, According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 1999 edition, the definition of a unicorn is “A fabled creature usually represented as a horse with a single spiraled horn on its forehead.” Judging by the statement made by Anselm it could be inferred that unicorns also exist simply because they can be defined even though no positive evidence supports the existence of unicorns. Surely this can be true, can it? As a result God does not exist in the actual world.
Thomas Aquinas offers more proof for the existence of God. Aquinas is generally regarded as the greatest scholastic philosopher and also the greatest Christian theologian. His most famous work, Five Ways, offers more than a simple definition of God and therefore makes a stronger argument for the existence of God. Obviously this work offers five different arguments for proof. These arguments are: by motion, cosmological, from necessity, by degree and by design. The argument by motion states that objects are in motion. If an object is in motion, then its motion must have been caused by something outside itself. Since there can be no infinite movers/movees chains, there must be a first unmoved mover. The second argument, the cosmological argument, implies that some events cause other events. If an event happens, then it must have been cause by an outside event. And again, because there are no infinite cause/effect chains there must be a first uncaused cause. The necessity argument points out that accidental things exist. Each accidental thing has a time at which it fails to exist(this is because accidental things are not omnipresent or “always present”). So lets assume that if everything was accidental there would be a time when nothing exists(”empty time”). That empty time would be the past. If the universe were empty at one time, it would be empty forever afterwards(one can not make something out of nothing i.e. conservation of matter). So, if everything were accidental, nothing would exist right now. However, the universe is not empty because accidental things do exist. Thus, there exists a being that is not accidental. The Fourth argument, by degree asserts that objects have properties to greater and lesser extents. If something has a property to a lesser extent, then something else exist with that property to the maximum possible degree. Because of this there must be an entity that has all properties to the maximum possible degree. Finally Aquinas offers the argument by design. It asseverates that objects that act for an end. Some of these objects have minds(humans) while others do not(animals, but this can not be proven and is not relevant at this time). An object that acts for an end, but does not have a mind, must have been designed by a being with a mind. Naturally then we can assume that there exist a being with a mind who designed all mindless objects that act for an end.
Thought provoking is it not? While Aquinas offers five very convincing arguments for the existence of God, holes can still be found within them. Often these holes lead to other deeper questions. For instance, how are we aware that nothing is infinite? While we may be able to prove this on earth, we have no real idea of what possibilities lie waiting for us within reality itself. Also if something exist and the complete maximum of essentially everything, it can not be perfect because it can not go beyond what is considered maximum. This coincides with the question “Can God make a rock he/she can not lift?” Either way you look at it God will not win this situation. By making a rock heavier than God’s strength he would not be all powerful, second by not making the rock prove that he is not all powerful by way of God’s inability to create such a rock.
Imagine however if these argument actually proved true. Other, perhaps more dangerous, questions would naturally arise. What is God like? How do we tell which God is the correct God? What happens to all the people that worshiped the wrong God? Is God good or evil? If God is considered good, why is there still evil in the world? Does God directly interact with our lives? These are questions that I do not want to know the answers to or should know the answers to. I believe this for the rest of society. Consider the turmoil created because Jesus wasn’t actually the Son of God.
While I feel that I’ve only explored the tip of the iceberg on this subject I do feel that I have covered enough for an average person to justify their beliefs or to give an idea of what kind of problem one runs into when answering this question.
In conclusion I will leave you with a quote from Walter Kaufmann. “Those asserting God’s existence have therefore often maintained that there are different modes of existence. This is a doubtful doctrine. [...] Even if it was legitimate to speak of different modes of existence, what could be meant by asking whether God “exists”? Saying that God exists in the same sense in which mathematical points exist would be hardly less atheistic than saying that his existence is comparable to that of unicorns. Those asserting the existence of God have sometimes recognize this difficulty and contended that God’s mode of existence is unique, that he does not exist in the same sense in which anything else exists but in a sense peculiar to himself. Logically, however, this is no different from saying that God does not exist.”
Другие работы по теме:
Ren Descartes Essay Research Paper Prove
Ren Descartes Essay, Research Paper Prove It I dare YOUProve It, I Dare YouFor many years philosophers have disputed argued, dissected and used countless of other devices in order to prove God’s existence. Is there someone or something that has been there since time started? All my life I was raised to believe that God exists.
Holidays
Which is the best way to spend your summer ? Well, I guess there exists a great number of different ways of spending summer holidays... But each person has his own preferences, so everyone likes the only way.
St Anselm
’S Ontological Argument For The Experience Of God. Essay, Research Paper God’s existence may vary from philosopher to philosopher, but according to the late St. Anselm,
St. Anselm
’s God Necessarily Exists Essay, Research Paper Throughout history It has been man kinds quest to find a proof of the existence of God. Even today, religious archeologist, plunder the Earth, looking for Noah’s Ark, The Ark of the Covenant, or the site Jesus Christ was thought to have been buried. These men and women are searching for artifacts to prove the existence of God to people who believe there is no God.
God Essay Research Paper God is allgood
God Essay, Research Paper ?God is all-good, God is all-powerful, and yet evil exists.? (Mackie, 90) The stated are three premises that are true. Truth lies in the explanation for why evil exists. The origin of sin is the explanation for the evil and suffering that people and nature bring on mankind. Once cannot doubt the existence of God based on principles that He has permitted to exist in mankind.
God Existence Essay Research Paper I do
God Existence Essay, Research Paper I do not believe God exists. I have many reasons why I think that there is no God. One of my many reasons is that there is no way that one man could have
God Essay Research Paper To say that
God Essay, Research Paper To say that God does exist, is to say that we can prove God exists by describing some proof we have of this statement, or at least a being with what we think some of the attributes of a God would be. Since we cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt that God exists we have to infer certain things about how we came to be.
Critique On Whether God Exists Essay Research
Paper “Whether God Exists” Countless philosophers since the beginning of recorded history have pondered the question of whether God exists. One such philosopher, Saint Thomas Aquinas, put forth his own theory on the existence of God. In his text “Whether God Exists”, he stated that through his five arguments he could prove God’s existence.
Is There A God Essay Research Paper
Does God Exist? God not only exists in the understanding, but in reality as well. God, according to Anselm, is a being “than which nothing greater can be conceived” (Anselm 29). According to this concept God could not simply exist in an understanding because that would leave the possibility of a greater being than God – He who exists in reality as well as understanding.
Philosophy Essay Research Paper There exists a
Philosophy Essay, Research Paper There exists a story, about a certain Ring of Gyges. In short form, the story goes like this: A man happened upon a ring on the finger of a corpse inside of a hollow bronze horse. He took the ring from the corpse and put it on his finger. He continued to wear it as a regular ring, until the night of his monthly meeting to discuss the state of his flocks.
Anselm
’s Ontological Argument Essay, Research Paper As a theologian and philosopher, Saint Anselm strove to prove the existence of God in reality. The bulk of his argument is found in Chapter II of Proslogium.
Descartes And Berkeley On Skepticism About The
Senses Essay, Research Paper Descartes and Berkeley on Skepticism About the Senses The philosophers Geroge Berkeley and Renee Descartes both had strong opinions on skepticism about the senses. In this paper, I
Descartes And Hume Essay Research Paper Skepticism
Descartes And Hume Essay, Research Paper Skepticism is the philosophical belief that doubts whether or not any of our knowledge is true. Hume as well as Descartes have a complex relationship with skepticism. In several of their works, the philosophers respond to skepticism through the use of skepticism.
Aquinas Essay Research Paper According to Aquinas
Aquinas Essay, Research Paper According to Aquinas everything is created was created by God. Aquinas made five proofs to proof the God exists and HE created everything. His five proofs are motion, efficient cause, possibility/necessity, gradation, and governance of the world.
Technology For Humans Essay Research Paper
“A Comment about Technology” It is my understanding that in the past 200 years, technology has advanced at an astonishing rate. Man’s advances in modern science have led to several cures for once common fatal diseases. I believe the average life span of Americans in the early 1800’s was something like 40-45.
The Ontoligical Argument Essay Research Paper Many
The Ontoligical Argument Essay, Research Paper Many people have tried to prove through many ways that God exists. Anselm used the ontological argument, proposing that if God could be thought of and perceived, then God has to exist. At the center of the ontological argument is the idea or concept of existence.
Does God Exist Essay Research Paper Where
Does God Exist? Essay, Research Paper Where is God? The question does God exist is the one that most likely comes up in the minds of people when disaster strikes or tragedy occurs. Why would he let the creation he most dearly loves suffer so greatly? I am going to try to answer this question as difficult as it may seem to some people.
Church Existence Essay Research Paper The Church
Church Existence Essay, Research Paper The Church exists to call sinners out of the muck and mire of an evil world system that has pitted mother against daughter, father against son, woman against man, man against nature and all humanity against God into a transforming and healing community that can undo the damage that the world has done to us through the building of GOD Kingdom here on Earth.
A Moment Essay Research Paper A moment
A Moment Essay, Research Paper A moment exists in what we call time. Time in itself, is a figment of our imagination. The only part of time that actually exists is the present moment. All other moments become memory or expectation, leaving them to be non existent. In truth, the present moment is the only part of time that can be experienced by the six senses.
Cosmological Arguments The Existance Of God Essay
, Research Paper A cosmological argument is meant to explain the existence of the physical universe. The arguments are supposed to be sound deductive arguments, meaning that the premises lead to evidence, which prove the conclusion to be an absolute truth. The two major cosmological arguments attempt to explain the existence of God.
The Existance Of God Essay Research Paper
The existence of God has been a philosophical question that has been discussed for centuries. Many theories have come about, trying to explain and prove the existence of God. From the Cosmological Argument, to the Teleological Argument, and including the Ontological Argument, all have been argued at one time or another.
Sexual Harassment Shouldn
’t Go Undetected Essay, Research Paper Although businesses and schools know sexual harassment exists, they appear unsure and unaware of how to deal with and prevent it. Sexual harassment is a reference to sex or anything sexual by any statement made or taken. There are many types of sexual harassment, but school and work, are the most common.
Why Does The Universe Exist Essay Research
Paper Why Does the Universe Exist? Consider that the universe is some sort of toy or form of entertainment for some prime mover, his point, his own entertainment, would be then why the universe exists. The Bible claims that the Christian deity created the universe and placed humans in it that they might be in awe of his power.
Book Of Job Essay Research Paper The
Book Of Job Essay, Research Paper The Book of Job, including the epilogue, argues justice is retributive in its nature. Retributive justices states that a just distribution of fairness exists. Throughout the book, Job portrays the idea that good things happen to those who are good, while bad things happen to those who are bad.
If I Can
’t See God, How Do I Know God Exists Essay, Research Paper The mystery of God’s existence has been a crucial element of many religious studies and traditions. Who is God? What is God? Where is God? To effectively discuss the existence of God, it is necessary to illustrate the notion of faith. People of faith believe that God does exist, and that relationship with God gives meaning to their lives.
What Is God Who Is God Essay
, Research Paper What is God? Who is God? Why do some people conclude that a God exists? Saint Thomas Aquinas goes from the fact that there must be a first efficient cause to the conclusion that God is that cause. Why must Aquinas make the extraordinary jump from there being a cause, to assuming that this cause must be God? Would it not be just as plausible to make matter the first cause? Matter is the substance that any physical object is composed of.
Human Nature Is Inherently Bad Essay Research
Paper Human Nature Is Inherently Bad There are many theories as to Human nature. One of which exists, under the thoughts of a prominent philosopher, and founder of Psychoanalysis Sigmund
Boethius
’ Argument Against Universals Essay, Research Paper Boethius’ Argument Against Universals In the essay From His Second Commentary on Porphyry s Isagoge Boethius discusses
American Dream Essay Research Paper scribes the
American Dream Essay, Research Paper scribes the defeat of the American dream, and that the American ideals differ with the actual social conditions that exist in society. For the American constitutions stands for the freedom, and equality among people, but the truth of the matter is that social discrimination still exists and the grouping among the classes can never be overcome.
Fate Overpowers Free Will Oedipus The King
) Essay, Research Paper Concerning the question of fate vs. free will, Sophocles felt that a person has no control over the course of his life. In the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists in the man’s heart.
The Phony Of The Opera Essay Research
Paper Because of normal disbelief in ghosts and the paranormal, Gaston Leroux goes to great lengths to ensure that, in fact, ?The Opera Ghost really existed.? In the prologue of The Phantom of the Opera, written with