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Atheism

Meinongian Argument

2 min read 266 words

Form Of Gödel’s Modal Ontological Argument

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Glossary

  • Sosein:(German) “What-it-is” the internal properties or essence of an object

  • Dasein: “There-being” — actual existence in reality

Argument

P1: For any conceivable object, we can speak of its Sosein (what-it-is) its internal properties or essence even if it does not exist in reality (Dasein). (e.g. a golden mountain has the properties of being golden and mountainous, even if it doesn’t exist.)

P2: Some objects, like a round square or a married bachelor, have contradictory Sosein, and thus cannot exist even in principle. (They are logically incoherent.

P3: The concept of a maximally great being (MGB) a being that is omnipotent, omniscient, morally perfect, necessarily existent is internally coherent. (Its Sosein contains no contradiction.)

P4: If the concept of an object is internally coherent and includes necessary existence as one of its essential properties, then it cannot be merely a non existent object. (Because necessary existence cannot be instantiated non-actually.)

P5: The MGB concept includes necessary existence as an essential feature. (A contingent maximally great being is incoherent it must exist in all possible worlds or none.)

P6: Therefore, the MGB cannot be merely a non existent object or fictional being it must exist necessarily if it exists at all.

P7: Since the concept is coherent, and its nonexistence would entail the non-instantiation of necessary existence, then the MGB must exist. (Non-existence would contradict its essence.)

P8: The being that is maximally great, necessarily existent, and the grounding of all other existence is referred to as God

C: Therefore, a maximally great, necessarily existent being God exists.