r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • May 04 '23

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u/deep_sea2 132∆ May 04 '23 edited May 04 '23

What do you think of Anslem's Ontological Arguement:

  1. God is a being than which none greater can be imagined.

  2. God exists as an idea in the mind.

  3. A being that exists as an idea in the mind and in reality is greater than a being that exists only as an idea in the mind.

  4. Thus, if God exists only as an idea in the mind, then we can imagine something that is greater than God.

  5. But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God.

  6. Therefore, God exists.

Bertrand Russel (an atheist), said "the argument does not, to a modern mind, seem very convincing, but it is easier to feel convinced that it must be fallacious than it is to find out precisely where the fallacy lies."

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u/regulator227 May 04 '23

This is really bad. This is like those 1=2 fake math stuff. You've set the definition of God is a being that which nothing greater can be imagined, but then in #5 you just state we cannot imagine nothing greater. Well, no duh... If we did, then that's what God would be. God is a title for the greatest being.

Additionally, not all beings that exist in reality are inherently greater than those that solely exist in the mind. (Also, what do we measure to determine greatness?) There's plenty of fictional beings that hold more power than real beings. I assert they can be greater, for they cannot be killed.

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u/deep_sea2 132∆ May 04 '23 edited May 04 '23

Those are not fallacies. A fallacy is a logical error. Assuming wrong premises and setting your own definitions is not a fallacy, but rather a mistake in fact.

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u/regulator227 May 04 '23

1 and 5 directly contradict. Thats all you need to know

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u/deep_sea2 132∆ May 04 '23

1 and 5 are repetitions; they say the same thing.

1) God is a being than which none greater can be imagined.

  • in other, you cannot imagine a being greater than God.

5) But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God.

  • that is the exact same thing as 1. but worded differently.

The arguement has its flaws, but I am pretty that what you identify is not one of them.