Anthony Ilagan

12 St. Alypius

St. Anselm St. Thomas Aquinas René Descartes

Ontological Argument for God's Five proofs of God’s existence
Existence - Descrates breaks this
-So there must be a First Mover evidence down into two
[Even a] fool, when he hears of which is itself unmoved. But if there umbrella categories, called
… a being than which nothing were an infinite series of movers, all proofs, whose logic is
greater can be conceived … waiting to be moved by something else, relatively easy to follow.
understands what he hears, and then actual motion could never have got
what he understands is in his started, and there would be no motion - In the first proof,
understanding.… And assuredly now.We observe motion all around us. Descartes argues that, by
that, than which nothing greater evidence, he is an imperfect
can be conceived, cannot exist - Everything in the world has its being who has an objective
in the understanding alone. efficient cause--its maker--and that reality including the notion
maker has its maker, and so on. that perfection exists and
For suppose it exists in the Possible, or contingent, beings are therefore has a distinct idea
understanding alone: then it can those, such as cars and trees and you of a perfect being (God, for
be conceived to exist in and I, whose existence is not example).
reality; which is greater.… necessary. If everything were merely
Therefore, if that, than which possible, there would have been a time,
nothing greater can be long ago, when nothing had yet come to - The second proof then
conceived, exists in the be. Nothing comes from nothing.
understanding alone, the very questions who it is then that
being, than which nothing - We all evaluate things and people in keeps him — having an idea of a
greater can be conceived, is terms of their being. But we would have perfect being — in existence,
one, than which a greater can be no such standards unless there were
conceived. But obviously this is some being that is perfect in every eliminating the possibility
impossible. Hence, there is no way. that he himself would be able
doubt that there exists a being, to do.
than which nothing greater can - As we look at the world around us,
be conceived, and it exists both and ourselves, we see ample evidence of
in the understanding and in design--the bird's wing, designed for
reality. the purpose of flight; the human ear,
designed for the purpose of hearing;
the natural environment, designed to
support life; and on and on.