The Causal Proof part3
Tue, 01/22/2008 - 16:54 — admin
Anselm's point is that if we can even conceive of a being so great, then he must exist not merely in thought but in actuality. He stated that God can be conceived of as that being than whom nothing greater can be thought or conceived. And since existence is greater than non-existence, God must therefore exist. After all, if He existed only in thought and not in reality, we could conceive of a being identical in every feature who really did exist, and who would therefore be superior to the one we conceived of as existing in mind only. Therefore, to actually fit the description of a being than whom nothing greater can be thought to exist, God must exist in actuality.20
MICHAEL: Do you consider Anselm's argument a good one?
TEACHER: I suppose it has its good points, though I am doubtful it has converted many non-believers. It can too easily be dismissed as a play on words, and often is, even by those who see the logic in it.
Now let us return to Hume's criticism that the cause of the universe may be many. These causes, I assert, may be reduced down to one principle cause.
If a group of men are cooperatively building a house, it can be found that one of them initially conceived of the project, though he may have enlisted others to draw the plans, take out the building permit, lay the foundation, do the carpentry, etc. In fact, it can usually be seen that there is one principle cause behind any endeavor, whether it be the building of a ship, the establishment of a political party, or the development of a new philosophy.
Thus, with a little discrimination or research, a singular cause can be proven to exist from among several causes which are all attributed to producing a particular effect.
THE SEARCH FOR WISDOMTEACHER: Not exactly. My point is that if you have a group of powerful beings who are equal, then they are not God. In Sanskrit, the word Bhagavan is used to refer to the Supreme Being, and it means one who is full with all opulences: all power, all beauty, all compassion, all wisdom, all wealth, all renunciation, etc. Any degree of wealth, beauty, or any other attribute which an individual may have is but a fraction of that same attribute which Bhagavan possesses in full. There can only be one such entity.
The search for wisdom is a great challenge; to act on wisdom is an even greater challenge.
Science of Identity Foundation – Chris Butler Speaks
Anselm's point is that if we can even conceive of a being so great, then he must exist not merely in thought but in actuality. He stated that God can be conceived of as that being than whom nothing greater can be thought or conceived. And since existence is greater than non-existence, God must therefore exist. After all, if He existed only in thought and not in reality, we could conceive of a being identical in every feature who really did exist, and who would therefore be superior to the one we conceived of as existing in mind only. Therefore, to actually fit the description of a being than whom nothing greater can be thought to exist, God must exist in actuality.20
MICHAEL: Do you consider Anselm's argument a good one?
TEACHER: I suppose it has its good points, though I am doubtful it has converted many non-believers. It can too easily be dismissed as a play on words, and often is, even by those who see the logic in it.
Now let us return to Hume's criticism that the cause of the universe may be many. These causes, I assert, may be reduced down to one principle cause.
If a group of men are cooperatively building a house, it can be found that one of them initially conceived of the project, though he may have enlisted others to draw the plans, take out the building permit, lay the foundation, do the carpentry, etc. In fact, it can usually be seen that there is one principle cause behind any endeavor, whether it be the building of a ship, the establishment of a political party, or the development of a new philosophy.
Thus, with a little discrimination or research, a singular cause can be proven to exist from among several causes which are all attributed to producing a particular effect.