Welcome to our course on the ontological argument!
This course explores one of the most infamous arguments for God. Does the possibility of God’s existence really demonstrate that He must exist?
Dr. Craig will focus mostly on Alvin Plantinga’s formulation of the argument:
1. It is possible that a maximally great being exists (in other words, maximal greatness is possibly exemplified).
2. If it is possible that a maximally great being exists then a maximally great being exists in some possible world.
3. If a maximally great being exists in some possible world then it exists in every possible world.
4. If a maximally great being exists in every possible world then it exists in the actual world.
5. If a maximally great being exists in the actual world then a maximally great being exists.
6. Therefore a maximally great being exists.
We expect that this course will take 5-8 hours to complete. Good luck!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon the completion of this course, you will be equipped to:
- Detail the history of the ontological argument and the ways it was strengthened by different thinkers over the centuries.
- Explain why, if it is possible that God exists, then He must in fact actually exist.
- Define the concepts of maximal-excellence and maximal greatness, and explain why they are relevant to the argument.
- Explain why God’s existence is either necessary or impossible, and why contingent existence is not an option for God.
- Respond to parodies of the argument, such as the maximally-great island, and inversions of the argument that attempt to show God does not exist.
Course Includes
- 3 Sections
- 13 Lessons
- 4 Quizzes
