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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that The essence of God involves necessary existence

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Defining a concept to include a property does not entail that anything instantiating that concept exists with that property.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Necessary existence is an existential claim about reality, not a feature that can be analytically derived from a nominal definition.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Kant's critique establishes that existence is not a predicate that can be packed into an essence, making 'necessary existence' a category error.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.The conceivability of God's non-existence, argued by Hume and later Sobel, demonstrates that 'God exists necessarily' is not a logical truth.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If 'necessary being' is a coherent concept, its necessity must be grounded in the structure of reality, not stipulated by definition, per Scotus's formal distinction between essence and existence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.By 'God' we understand a necessary being
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If God is by definition a necessary being, then necessary existence is contained in the essence of God
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.