Its form follows the previous system of possible world semantics where gods existence is proven using various assumptions. This argument for the existence of god has fascinated philosophers ever since anselm first stated it. Only by disputations and debate may truths about god emerge. Original german text available online, 628 kb pdf file, maintained by alain. Alvin plantinga is held by many to be the greatest living christian philosopher, and has made immense contributions to various areas of. Aug 16, 2019 god, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga free download as pdf file. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic. Page 101 note 1 i use the expression religious system to mean the system of beliefs belonging to a religion which contains beliefs as opposed to one consisting solely of. In short, the prize goes to people who labor valiantly to make religion appear reasonable. The author concludes that while the argument is probably. Plantinga s modal ontological argument includes many of the aspects of anselms original argument but includes various additions and changes.
Alvin plantinga the ontological argument page 315 1. The logical structure of the modal ontological argument is valid, but premises are all points of contention and subject to challenge. Plantingas defence of the ontological argument michael tooley in chapter io of his book, the nature of necessity, alvin plantinga contends that although many versions of the ontological argument are unsound, there is at least one that is valid, and. A more recent ontological argument came from kurt godel, who proposed a formal argument for gods existence. Plantinga and taylor did a fine job compiling parts of famous philosophical works that reflect the ontological argument, both for and against it. The following video explains alvin plantingas modal ontological argument where the word modal refers to notions of possibility. God, freedom, and evil kindle edition by plantinga. The second part of the book is plantinga s presentation of the ontological argument for the existence of god. Ao1 a examine the ontological argument for the existence.
An ontological argument for the existence of god attempts the method of a priori proof, which uses intuition and reason alone. This essay critically examines plantinga s rendition, uncovering both its strengths and weaknesses. From 1963 to 1982, plantinga taught at calvin college before accepting an appointment as the john a. Employing the idea of possible worlds, plantinga skillfully expresses anselms argument in a way that helps us both to understand the argument and to see its persuasive force. Plantinga on the free will defense hugh lafollette. Sep 01, 2015 a presentation of the oa from alvin plantinga. Jul 29, 2008 by taking existence in reality to be a greatmaking property and god to be the greatest possible being, plantinga skillfully presents anselms ontological argument. This is the way some philosophers seek to represent logical possibilities. Plantinga developed his modal version of the ontological argument for the existence of god in his.
In section ii, i consider how kant conceives of the ontological proof visavis the cosmological and physico theological proofs. The second part of the book is plantingas presentation of the ontological argument for the existence of god. Here, plantinga attempted to use the philosophical concept of possible worlds to show the necessary nature of gods existence. An introduction to alvin plantingas modal ontological. Ontological argument apologetics wiki fandom powered. Alvin plantinga challenged this argument and proposed an alternative, based on modal logic.
Norman malcolm and alvin plantinga have all presented muchdiscussed ontological arguments which bear interesting connections to the earlier arguments of st. In other words, ontological arguments are arguments from what are typically alleged to be none but analytic, a priori and necessary premises to the. Guminski examines the modal ontological argument based upon possible worlds semantics expounded by alvin plantinga and further developed and defended by william lane craig. Today, well begin with alvin plantinga s modal ontological argument for god. Adversarial proceedings about god, as if in a court of law, can provide insights. By taking existence in reality to be a greatmaking property and god to be the greatest possible being, plantinga skillfully presents anselms ontological argument. God, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga download bok. A critique of the plantinga version of the modal ontological argument 2016 by arnold t. Plantingas defence of the ontological argument oxford academic. Anselm, but i find it even more obviously tautological. Plantinga basically uses a possible world analysis.
In the context of the abrahamic religions, ontological arguments were first proposed by the medieval philosophers avicenna in the book of healing and anselm of canterbury in his proslogion. The following video explains alvin plantinga s modal ontological argument where the word modal refers to notions of possibility. Plantinga reformulated it in terms of the possible worlds semantics. If, in an identical proposition, we reject the predicate while retaining the subject. The show was classic plantinga clear analysis, dry wit, admirable humility and surveyed some of the highlights of his impressive career including warrant, proper basicality and christian belief, the evolutionary argument against naturalism, and the ontological argument. Nov 21, 2019 god, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga details trove. Kants objections, plantinga s reply gregory robson, duke university i. Carmona as sort of a reply to the article i posted earlier, i have decided to present chapter 4 of my book philosophical atheism in full. Norman malcolm revived the ontological argument in 1960 when he located a second, stronger ontological argument in anselms work. Critiques of ontological arguments begin with gaunilo, a contemporary of st.
The possibility premise sure is, the other two in my formulation dont seem to be in the academic literature that i read. What was particularly intetesting was seeing alvin plantingas rebuttal of the argument he would later come to support, although only after tweaking it which i think has really transormed it and is the most convincing form of it that ive ever read. Many arguments fall under the category of the ontological, and they tend to involve arguments about the state of being or existing. Kants objection 8 the most famous and important objection to the ontological argument is contained in immanuel kants critique of pure reason. In god freedom and evil2 alvin plantinga advances a version of anselms famous argument, a version he holds to be a sound argument for the existence of god. Alvin plantinga alvin plantinga seeks to modify malcolms argument with what are called possible world semantics. Living legend alvin plantinga was recently a guest on unbelievable with justin brierley. The relevant articles are reprinted in the ontological argument jan 1974. Advice to christian philosophers alvin planting a i. William lane craig considers alvin plantingas version of the ontological argument as having the best chance of being cogent wlc 2004, p. Alvin plantinga on the ontological argument springerlink. Alvin plantinga s argument has gained substantial attention after its promotion by the controversial christian apologist william lane craig.
Malcolm, and alvin plantinga, have utilized modal logic to develop new versions of the on tological argument. God exists in the understanding but not in reality. Plantinga on dualism im in the process of writing the next podcast episode on alvin plantinga and his arguments around the idea of belief in god as a properly basic belief. Here, plantinga is it seems to me far less persuasive.
Alvin plantingas surprisingly deflationary take on his own. Thus, keeping the ontological argument alive for 900 years. Plantingas fundamental error is in assuming that philosophy is about things. Few thinkers have had as much impact on contemporary philosophy as has alvin plantinga. In the actual world i am writing up this blog post, but i could have decided instead to go pour myself a scotch.
Obrien professor of philosophy emeritus at the university of notre dame and has written groundbreaking books on the problem of evil, god and science, and philosophical. This calls into question the validity of the argument. Plantinga s defence of the ontological argument michael tooley in chapter io of his book, the nature of necessity, alvin plantinga contends that although many versions of the ontological argument are unsound, there is at least one that is valid, and whose premises may reasonably be accepted. Ao12 b how successful is this argument in proving the existence of god ao12 immanuel kant, 17241804. There are also the claims that crucial christian doctrinestrinity, incarnation, or atonement, for. Alvin plantinga s modal version is perhaps the most notable example. In my presentation of the argument, i will go through the argument for my own case. Reassessing plantingas ontological argument for god. Themes from richard swinburne, bergmann and brower, eds. Alvin plantinga famously defends a version of the ontological argument that makes use of the notion of possible worlds. Ontological arguments stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Articles 2016 law, cause, and occasionalism, in reason and faith. Plantinga is one of the most respected and influential philosophers today. Apr 25, 2019 god, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga free download as pdf file. Alvin plantingas modal version is perhaps the most notable example. What is the best refutation of plantingas modal ontological.
Alvin plantingas properly basic belief religion refuted. Reason and belief in god alvin plantinga belief in god is the heart and center of the christian religion as it is of judaism and islam. Alvin plantingas modal version is perhaps the most. To consider this general argument, plantinga selects one particular version offered by j. In chapter 10 of his book, the nature of necessity,1 alvin plantinga con tends that. A critique of the plantinga version of the modal ontological. Ontological arguments for the existence of god, first discovered by st. God, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga free download as pdf file. God, freedom, and evil kindle edition by plantinga, alvin.
More specifically, ontological arguments tend to start with a priori theory about the organization of the universe. The work of this quintessential analytic philosopher has in many respects set the tone for the debate in the fields of modal metaphysics and epistemology and he is arguably the most important philosopher of religion of our time. Of course christians may disagree, at least in emphasis, as to how to think of god. Page 99 note 1 i alston, william, the ontological argument revisited, in plantinga, alvin ed.
Sep 28, 2017 living legend alvin plantinga was recently a guest on unbelievable with justin brierley. Introduction christianity, these days, and in our part of the world, is on the move. Today, well begin with alvin plantingas modal ontological argument for god. This book so small that you can fit it in your back pocket. I have to say, i think several of the objections presented against the ontological argument basically miss the mark. His modal version of the argument is in some ways more refined than the classic version of st. Plantinga on the free will defense 125 tological proof, the atheist can, as even plantinga admits, successfully revise 2 to say. God, freedom, and evil alvin plantinga details trove. Plantingas text is both a record of alvin plantingas going through the argument for his own case and an invitation to each of his readers to go through the same argument mutatis mutandis for his or her own case. Obrien professor of philosophy at the university of. What was particularly intetesting was seeing alvin plantinga s rebuttal of the argument he would later come to support, although only after tweaking it which i think has really transormed it and is the most convincing form of it that ive ever read. It also makes use of the clause in nagasawas article, namely that since.
Alvin plantingas surprisingly deflationary take on his. Introduction hroughout immanuel kants era, philosophers richly debated rene descartess seventeenthcentury reformulation of the ontological argument that anselm originnally advanced in the eleventh century. The ontological argument for the existence of god genius. In the first half on natural atheology, he addresses the socalled problem of evil, while part 2 addresses very briefly aquinas cosmological argument and paleys teleological argument, followed by a more indepth look at anselms ontological argument. Alvin plantinga contemporary philosophy in focus cambridge university press. Is the modal ontological argument for god a sound proof. T his is a collection of philosophical papers by alvin plantinga. In it, im clearly on plantingas side, and i think his work in that area represents a crucial contribution to philosophy of religion and to epistemology. Few people, i should think, have been brought to belief in god. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic from 1963 to 1982, plantinga taught at calvin university before accepting an appointment as the john a.
As is typically done, we might think of a possible world as a complete way that things might have been. An ontological argument is a philosophical argument for the existence of god that uses ontology. However, since he proves gods existence by virtue of a premise, god a maximally great being is a possible being, that is true only if god actually exists. For a critical account of verificationism see plantinga, god and other minds, chap. Important variations were developed by later philosophers. I shall examine one contemporary argument, that presented by alvin plantinga in. The prize is typically awarded to people who are credited with bridging the gap between religion and science. This article deals with the version of the ontological argument oa for existence of god proposed by malcolm and. This book discusses and exemplifies the philosophy of religion, or philosophical reflection on central. The religious significance of the ontological argument. Plantingas modal ontological argument includes many of the aspects of anselms original argument but includes various additions and changes. Plantingas version of the ontological argument is seen as the most updated and formidable. Anselm of canterbury used a version of the argument in the 11th century ad, but it has its modern defenders as well.
William lane craig considers alvin plantinga s version of the ontological argument as having the best chance of being cogent wlc 2004, p. Apr 23, 2014 the ontological argument has a long history st. Oct 21, 2016 plantinga s fundamental error is in assuming that philosophy is about things. Contemporary philosophers such as charles hartshorne, norman malcolm, and alvin plantinga, have utilized modal logic to develop new versions of the on tological argument. An introduction to alvin plantingas modal ontological argument. Ontological arguments are arguments, for the conclusion that god exists, from premises which are supposed to derive from some source other than observation of the worlde. If something is possible, they say in a possible world there exists x. The first, and bestknown, ontological argument was proposed by st. Refuting plantingas victorious ontological argument.