Trademark argument
Encyclopedia
The trademark argument is an a priori
argument for the existence of God
developed by French philosopher and mathematician, René Descartes
. The argument, though similar to the ontological argument
, differs in some respects, since it seeks to prove the existence of God through the causal adequacy principle
(CAP) as opposed to analysing the definition of the word God.
The trademark argument can be analyzed (or rationally reconstructed) as follows:
1. I have an idea of God.
2. Everything which exists has a cause.
3. Therefore, there is a cause of my idea of God.
3. There is a cause of my idea of God.
4. The cause of an effect must contain at least as much reality as the effect.
5. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.
5. The cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.
6. The idea of God contains perfection.
7. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.
7. The cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.
8. No being which is not God contains perfection.
9. Therefore, no being which is not God could be the cause of my idea of God.
9. No being which is not God could be the cause of my idea of God.
10. There is a cause for my idea of God.
11. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must not be a being which is not God.
11. The cause of my idea of God must not be a being which is not God.
12. A being is either God, or it is not God.
13. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God is God.
13. The cause of my idea of God is God.
14. If something is the cause of something else, that something exists.
15. Therefore, God exists.
A priori and a posteriori (philosophy)
The terms a priori and a posteriori are used in philosophy to distinguish two types of knowledge, justifications or arguments...
argument for the existence of God
Existence of God
Arguments for and against the existence of God have been proposed by philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others. In philosophical terms, arguments for and against the existence of God involve primarily the sub-disciplines of epistemology and ontology , but also of the theory of value, since...
developed by French philosopher and mathematician, René Descartes
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
. The argument, though similar to the ontological argument
Ontological argument
The ontological argument for the existence of God is an a priori argument for the existence of God. The ontological argument was first proposed by the eleventh-century monk Anselm of Canterbury, who defined God as the greatest possible being we can conceive...
, differs in some respects, since it seeks to prove the existence of God through the causal adequacy principle
Causal adequacy principle
The "causal adequacy principle" is a philosophical claim made by René Descartes that the cause of an object must contain at least as much reality as the object itself, whether formally or eminently....
(CAP) as opposed to analysing the definition of the word God.
The trademark argument can be analyzed (or rationally reconstructed) as follows:
1. I have an idea of God.
2. Everything which exists has a cause.
3. Therefore, there is a cause of my idea of God.
3. There is a cause of my idea of God.
4. The cause of an effect must contain at least as much reality as the effect.
5. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.
5. The cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.
6. The idea of God contains perfection.
7. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.
7. The cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.
8. No being which is not God contains perfection.
9. Therefore, no being which is not God could be the cause of my idea of God.
9. No being which is not God could be the cause of my idea of God.
10. There is a cause for my idea of God.
11. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must not be a being which is not God.
11. The cause of my idea of God must not be a being which is not God.
12. A being is either God, or it is not God.
13. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God is God.
13. The cause of my idea of God is God.
14. If something is the cause of something else, that something exists.
15. Therefore, God exists.
Criticisms of the Trademark Argument
- The CAP compares the cause of ideas to the cause of objects, but, whereas objects often have straightforward causes, ideas do not.
- The CAP suggests a strong link between the cause of an object and its effect, but
- The ingredients of a strong bridge do not themselves contain strength.
- Sponge cake has many properties not present in the ingredients (e.g. sponginess)
- The idea of God contains only the idea of perfection, not perfection itself.
- Gaunilo - I may have the concept of a perfect island. The perfection of this island would imply that it would exist, however this is not the case. A concept of something does not make it exist by adding the attribute of perfection.
- David HumeDavid HumeDavid Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
– The idea of God could be arrived at by considering qualities within oneself (wisdom, strength, goodness..) and magnifying them. - Descartes states that for the idea of the trademark argument to work, we must have a clear and distinct idea of God, i.e. a personal, infinite, monotheistic God. Descartes states that everyone is born with some kind of concept of God, no matter how broad it is. If we reach another idea of god, other than the traditional monotheistic one, Descartes would argue that the idea of God we have reached is not the idea of the clear and distinct God that we are looking for - however, he says that by looking closer we can show people that the idea of the god that they have been thinking of is actually, underneath, really the idea of God. However, if it is necessary to show people where they have reasoned wrongly, then the idea of God is not innate, as they have not reached it of their own accord.
- The idea a man has of perfection is itself imperfect. If one were to ask a man to describe perfection, it is impossible that his description could be accurate. If man's idea of perfection came from a perfect God, it would follow that his idea of perfection itself be perfect. Since the idea of perfection is imperfect, it is more reasonable to assume that it might have come from other imperfect sources.
See also
- Conflict thesisConflict thesisThe conflict thesis proposes an intrinsic intellectual conflict between religion and science. The original historical usage of the term denoted that the historical record indicates religion’s perpetual opposition to science. Later uses of the term denote religion’s epistemological opposition to...
- Cartesian CircleCartesian circleThe Cartesian circle is a potential mistake in reasoning attributed to René Descartes.Descartes argues – for example, in the third of his Meditations on First Philosophy – that whatever one clearly and distinctly perceives is true: "I now seem to be able to lay it down as a general rule that...
- Age of EnlightenmentAge of EnlightenmentThe Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
- Faith and rationalityFaith and rationalityFaith and rationality are two modes of belief that exist in varying degrees of conflict or compatibility. Rationality is belief based on reason or evidence. Faith is belief in inspiration, revelation, or authority...
Sources
- René Descartes - "Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings"
- Hamilton - "Understanding Philosophy"
- school-portal.co.uk
- Barton University
- faithnet.org.uk