Lacdang, Allan Carlo D.

PHILO 106- 12:25-1:25PM/ MWF

MARCH 14, 2013

SUMMARY: The first chapter of the book is about Anselms Ontological Argument. Anselms Ontological Argument came from his work, Proslogion wherein he believed that truly there is God. He began to prove Gods existence by mentioning the fool in Psalms 14:1, who says in his heart that there is no God. According to Anselm, even someone who denies that God exists must also understand what the term God means. Anyone who denies Gods existence cannot make the same denial that God exists in the understanding. Another significant point in Anselm argument is that he distinguishes a thing that exists only in the mind or understanding and a thing that exists both in the mind and reality. The ontological argument relies on the argument that existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind. Therefore, in order to believe in Gods existence, someone should think God who exists in the mind and also in reality. We can understand God because we believe that there is God. And to believe God is to have faith so that we can understand Him. The next chapter is about the philosophical work of St. Thomas entitled, The Five Ways. The five ways of St. Thomas focused more on the cosmological aspect. The first way is the Argument from Motion wherein he proved Gods existence by associating Him to a being that moves everything into being. The second way is the Argument from Efficient Causes, in this argument St. Thomas proved Gods existence by associating Him to that one being who is responsible for the existence of all intermediary causes that is also responsible for the various effects which is present in the world. The third way is the Argument from Contingency wherein he associated Gods existence that makes all other existence possible. The fourth way is the Argument from Gradedness or Hierarchy wherein he referred God to that being that has all the perfection found in all things. Lastly, the fifth way which is the Argument from I ntelligence pointed to us the nature of God who is supreme in knowledge and intelligence. The third chapter tackles the story of the watch and the watchmaker which was written by William Paley. Paleys argument focuses on the analogy between the watch and the universe. According to Paley, the watch which is a product of intelligent design resembles the whole universe. The watch which is a complex artifact as compared to the universe which is more intricate therefore is a product of intelligent design. And that being which is responsible for creating the universe is probably a powerful and vastly intelligent cosmic designer which is God. David Hume, the chief critic of Paley is directed against the claim that there exists a supremely perfect being that created the universe. He contends that there are no rational grounds for thinking that the maker of the universe is perfect. The fourth chapter focuses on Henry Newmans Grammar of Assent. Newmans work stressed the importance of real assent which is based on a kind of knowledge or understanding that is personal, vivid, concrete and alive. He also claims that conscience as part of a persons real assent involves some living object toward whom it is directed. According to him, the experience of conscience that causes either a positive (when something good is performed) or negative feelings (because of guilty, shame and distress) carries the divine existence. In addition, there is also an alternative basis for conscience besides God: (1) something abstract and impersonal. (2) something concrete but less than human. (3) Something on the human level but not divine. (4) Something higher than the human level but not yet divine. The fifth chapter which is based from Blaise Pascals philosophical work entitled To Bet or Not to Bet . Pascal who is known to be a mathematician uses his popular cost-benefit analysis in order to find a pragmatic justification of a persons be lief in the existence of God. Pascal asks us to make a wager wherein we need to choose whether to believe or not to believe that God exists. When a person bet that God exists, there is an even chance of winning. If ever God exists, then you will gain the reward of eternal happiness. But if God doesnt exist, then you lose nothing, because even if God doesnt exist and there is no reward, you have gained the prize of being a wholesome person, by a living a morally upright life. However, if a person bet on the nonexistence of God, the consequences might be worse. If God is nonexistent, then you win in the sense that living out your worldly desires is worth it. But if God actually exists, then you lose the promise of infinite life in heaven, and risk of eternal punishment in hell. The sixth chapter is about the story of The Holy and the Profane which was written by John Smith. Holy is something that is mysterious, sacred, and noble. On the other hand, profane is mainstream, ordinary, and obvious. Though the Holy is distinct from the profane, both are intertwined with each other. Smith presented two, different types of situations the normal and crucial times. The normal situation is considered as ordinary and routinary in our daily living, while the crucial times are turning points of our life, something which happens only once and creates a lasting impact in our lives. In his work, Smith highlighted the importance of those crucial and significant turning points in a persons living ex perience. According to Smith, it is necessary or a prerequisite to have faith in God as the Supreme Bring before a person can begin to recognize the crucial and significant events as ultimately belonging to the sphere of the sacred and the holy.

SYNTHESIS: With the given arguments regarding the existence of God, it is quite complicated to choose among the arguments which really verify the presence and existence of God. A lot of arguments have been given by some famous thinkers, some of them failed to prove the existence of God but nevertheless some were able to prove and give concrete evidences about the existence of God. The works written by St. Anselm, John Newman, Blaise Pascal and John Smith have something in common. They tried to prove the exist ence of God by relating a persons emotions, experiences and belief by giving concrete and philosophical arguments. Through a persons emotion, Newman personified a persons feelings brought by his conscience to a voice which tells us to do what is good an d to refrain from doing bad things and that little voice represents God. In Newmans argument, God is likened to an image of an all-powerful Judge and of a loving and merciful God. Our own personal experiences especially those crucial and significant point in our life is also a concrete evidence of the presence of God. Even in simple things like able to wake up in the morning; we acknowledge a Greater being thanking Him for giving us another opportunity to live. We also thank Him whenever we feel joy and blessed. But there are some moments when we feel down like going out of our comfort zones, experience tragic events in life and at these crucial moments we are able to acknowledge that Greater being asking and seeking for help, enlightenment and comfort. In these experiences and events in a persons life, even in ordinary or special moments we are able to acknowledge and feel and the presence of God. A persons belief has become one of the important points for some philosophers to claim and verify the presence of God. Believing in God makes Him the greatest conceivable being ever. And to be able to become that greatest conceivable being a person should think God not only in our mind and understanding but also in reality. A true believer of God proves Gods exi stence not through his naked eye but through his faith. Believing in God is also likened in a betting game. Its a win or lose situation. And in order to bet that God exists, a person should contemplate in his own beliefs. Meanwhile, the works of St. Thomas and William Paley chooses to relate the existence of God outside and independent of a persons existence. They used scientific evidence and analogy in order to prove Gods existence. The observation of our surrounding like motion, the hierarchy between a living and non-living thing, the causes of all existence and the presence of an intelligent design will lead to an idea that there is a Greater and Supreme Being and a Cosmic Designer which is responsible for all those things. But because of the fact that everything in this world has its own flaws, contrary to some arguments that God made everything perfect. Some individuals who were considered to be non-believers and labeled as atheists contend and deny His existence. They also created their own arguments to counter the views of the believers or the theists and this made some believers to question their faith and belief of the existence of God. PERSONAL STAND: Growing up in a Roman Catholic family, at my early age I was taught how to pray and my parents regularly went to Church and attend the Holy Mass. My mother raised me to become a prayerful Christian. She never failed to remind me to pray and thank God. I was even brought to a Christian school during my preschool years and my mother also encouraged me to become an altar boy/sacristan when I was in Grade 5 in order to serve Him and the church. With all the experiences during childhood, it has been in my mind that God really exists. Therefore, prior to the arguments whether scientifically or philosophically that disproves Gods existence, I already have a strong faith and belief in Him. However, there are some instances that I questioned Gods existence. Those crucial times as what John Smiths mentioned in his work really made me to ask, Is there God? If there is God, then why would He let these things happen to me? At that moment when I really felt down and asked for His comfort and help but nothing happens and thats the time I started to doubt my faith in Him. There some factors also that affected my view regarding the existence of God. I ve read some books and articles that is considered to be antiChrist and disproves His existence. There are some points that I realize that those authors/atheists were correct with their own views on why they do not believe in God. And those realizations will challenge my belief in that Greater Being. Science is also a factor why at some point I questioned God. Although they had their own brilliant point of views and scientific reasoning, I still believe that there is God who is responsible for giving us an intelligent mind to the point that we even questioned and doubt on His existence. Another factor would be the clich saying to see is to believe. Even though I havent given the see Him in personal I still believe that He is with me, guiding and watching my every move. Its really hard to talk about religion since we cannot deny the fact that Gods existence is still a mystery for majority of us. There will still be unending arguments and questions leading to differentiation and clashing of opinions and views. But for me, I definitely believe that every individual is unique from each other. Every person is unique because we have our own personal views regarding the existence and non-existence of God. Its a matter of faith. On how firm our faith is with Him. On how close we are to God and on how much we are willing to surrender everything to Him and acknowledge His presence and existence.

Prior to the proofs and arguments posed upon by the different thinkers and philosophers of old, I have already established a firm faith in God. He is the sole reason for my existence, for without God, I can never live the life that I am currently enjoying right now. Before, I really dont know why I believe in Him, maybe because my parents, particularly my mother, wanted me to grow up to be a devout Christian. She sent me to Catholic schools so that I will be immersed and acquainted with my faith. However, despite with my belief in God, there are also times when I question Him. I ask God why do many bad and unpleasant things happen to me, and why do these events affect my interaction and views in life. But the point is why am I mentioning these thing s? Its because I need to prove my stand that God really exists. Even though I havent seen Him personal and up close, but one thing is for sure, He is there watching my every move. Its quite hard to explain why my faith in Him never ceased. In order to widen my views, I read several articles about the non-existence of God. With these articles, they try to disprove His existence, saying God is unreal and that religion is detrimental to the growth of society. After reading these articles, I discerned to weigh the information that Ive read. But I still believed in God and cling unto Him all the time. But I cannot deny the fact that Gods existence is a mystery to me. I am often intrigued with the idea on whom or what created God? Why does God allow suffering in this world? Many questions pop up in my mind, but I console myself and say, There are really things that we cant explain.

The works of Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, William Paley, John Newman, Blaise Pascal, and John Smith share a lot of things in common. For one, God is viewed as the source of all things in this world. He is the Creator of the skies, waters, land, air and all the living things that abound here on Earth. How could a being like Him create such complexity occurring in this world? How could he create a human being in his image and likeness? God must have been an intelligent designer, who can create structures of things that when interwoven and interspersed, can result into a beautiful and engaging creation. As the personification of perfection and flawlessness, God is the voice which tells us to do what is good and to avoid doing things that are bad. God is an omnipresent being who watches our every move, and even if we cannot see Him in actuality, His presence stimulates and affects our emotions. We feel a sense of joy when we accomplish our tasks or when we do something good, such as donating money and food to charity or sharing what we have. But when we do something bad, like cheating and lying, there is a sense of guilt and awkwardness that

creeps within us. God is seen as the cause of all things in this world. When we cannot find answers to our questions, we often refer to God as the reason why these things came to be. If something good or bad happens, we often say, It is Gods purpose. With that mindset, we are surrendering everything to God, and acknowledge Him for directing us to the path in life He wants us to lead. We are led to believe that since He is our Creator, we should adhere to his Will and to never ever go against what He wants us to do. However, if God is so perfect and supreme, why is the world full of mistakes, pain, and hatred? He created the human beings, then why does His creation is flawed and faulty? Such question has been the argument of the nonbelievers or atheists, particularly David Hume, who contends that the production is only as good as its maker. The six arguments about the existence of God that was mentioned in the summary can be attributed also to a persons existence. First is the external factor that affects a person. The Five Ways of St. Thomas which is the cosmological argument generally talks about the externalities found in the surrounding. Motion (movements), efficient causes (), contingency (), gradedness and intelligent design () can be found anywhere in a persons environment. The existence of human artifacts which is discussed in Paleys The Watch and the Watchmaker also exists outside a persons existence. A person can envision the analogy between a watch and the universe. The second attribution is about a persons experience. The notional assent which is mentioned in Newmans article i s based on a persons knowledge and experience which is concrete, vivid and personal. The conscience which is part of a persons existence and experience

Lastly is the attribution of persons understanding and belief