#norman malcolm

[cactusnotes]

Normal Malcolm’s Ontological Argument

Norman Malcolm, in the Philosophical Review, dismisses Anselm’s first, and Descartes’ ontological arguments, but finds Anselm’s second argument for necessary existence much more convincing. 

‘God necessarily exists’ is entitled by the proposition…’God is an absolutely unlimited being’

Existence is not inherently a characteristic. Simply adding it to a list of characteristics does not prove God’s existence. Anselm’s first, and Descartes’ arguments are thus both incorrect. However, this is his argument:

The definition of God is an unlimited being (thus worthy of worship.)

This means he cannot be ‘created’ or ‘caused’ as they would limit him- contingency limits. 

Thus, he either does not exist, or he has always existed, to have never been created, which is temporal. 

Thus, God’s existence is either impossible or necessary. 

However, God's existence is not logically impossible, it isn’t ‘self-contradictory’.

So God must necessarily exist in reality.

Conclusion: God exists due to his logical necessary existence, not just as it is said he exists.

However, being necessary limits him from creating himself of not existing, so this is confusing. We don’t know what limitless is, so we cannot judge God if that is indeed his definition. Also his existence could be logically impossible- of everything we know is contingent, then there is no need for a necessarily existing being. 

[dimartblog]

Η απατηλή διαίσθηση

—του Γιώργου Θεοχάρη—

Εμπιστεύεστε τη διαίσθησή σας; Καλά κάνετε! Ό,τι μπορεί εμπιστεύεται κανείς. Αρκεί να μην ξεχνάμε ότι υπάρχει διαφορά μεταξύ τού «εμπιστεύομαι τη διαίσθησή μου» και τού «η διαίσθησή μου δεν με ξεγελάει ποτέ».

Στην πρώτη περίπτωση, εκείνος που δηλώνει «εμπιστεύομαι τη διαίσθησή μου» δείχνει μια θεμιτή (αν και ελαφρώς αφελή) εμπιστοσύνη στην επαγωγή: αφού η διαίσθησή του…

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[conscientia-et-supplicium]

Ludwig Wittgenstein: a memoir, Norman Malcolm.

[thequeenofallcreation]

I am so confused in A Level RE. I am so confused that reading more explanations just makes me MORE CONFUSED!!!

[fromthebullypulpit]

Thinking Hard about the Everyday

Thinking Hard about the Everyday

“Whenever I thought of you I couldn’t help thinking of a particular incident which seemed to me very important. You & I were walking along the river towards the railway bridge & we had a heated discussion in which you made a remark about ‘national character’ that shocked me by its primitiveness. I then thought: what is the use of studying philosophy if all that it does for you is to enable you…

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[robertsmithsonlibraryandbookclub]

Untitled Project: Robert Smithson Library & Book Club [Malcolm, Norman. Ludwig Wittgenstein: A Memoir, 1962] Oil paint on carved wood, 2014

[petitesperceptions]

Ein Mensch, den philosophische Verwirrung gefangenhält, ist wie ein Mann in einem Zimmer, der hinaus will, aber nicht weiss wie. Er versucht's mit dem Fenster, aber das ist zu hoch. Er versucht's mit dem Kamin, aber der ist zu eng. Und wenn er sich nur umdrehen wollte, sähe er, dass die Tür die ganze Zeit offen war!

Ludwig Wittgenstein

in Norman Malcolm: Ludwig Wittgenstein. Ein Erinnerungsbuch