Phil 230, Handout 6 - God, Minds, And Bodies

Front 1

Defend Anselm's argument that God exists in reality

Back 1

1) God is a man which no greater can be conceived.
2) If God exists in the mind only, there would be a greater conceivable being, namely God existing in reality.
3) God exists in the mind.
4) Therefore, God exists in reality.

Front 2

Explain Malcolm's version of the Ontological argument regarding the necessary existence of God.

Back 2

1) God’s existence is either necessary or impossible
2) God’s existence is clearly possible
3) Therefore, God exists necessarily.

Front 3

Distinguish the three mental faculties

Back 3

1) The understanding
2) The imagination
3) Sensation

Front 4

What does the Chiliagon argument show?

Back 4

The Chiliagon argument shows that we can understand something we can’t imagine. Thus, the understanding is distinct from the imagination.

Front 5

What do the lessons of Nature show?

Back 5

The lessons of Nature show that our sensory perceptions correspond to real objects.

Front 6

Explain the argument for the existence of corporeal things

Back 6

1) Nature gives me a strong propensity to think that sense impressions are caused by material things existing outside of my mind.
2) If sense impressions are not caused by material things, then God would be a deceiver
3) God is no deceiver
4) Therefore, sensory impressions are caused by material things outside of my mind.