On the Logic of the Ontological Argument

Oppenheimer, Paul; Zalta, Edward N.

doi:10.2307/2214107

Cited by 20 publications

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“…eg. Kaplan (1972), Neale (1990), Scott (1991), Grabmayer (et.al) (2011); also Oppenheimer & Zalta (1991), (2011)-the 2011-article pointing towards computational metaphysics); (2) theories that are inspired by the Fregean approaches to definite descriptions (cf. e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

Incomplete Symbols — Definite Descriptions Revisited

Gratzl

2015

J Philos Logic

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We investigate incomplete symbols, i.e. definite descriptions with scope-operators. Russell famously introduced definite descriptions by contextual definitions; in this article definite descriptions are introduced by rules in a specific calculus that is very well suited for prooftheoretic investigations. That is to say, the phrase 'incomplete symbols' is formally interpreted as to the existence of an elimination procedure. The last section offers semantical tools for interpreting the phrase 'no meaning in isolation' in a formal way. IntroductionAccording to Russell a definite description has the following form: the so-and-so where 'the' is in the singular and 'so-and-so' is a (possible) complex expression. According to Russell (also in earlier writings 1 ) definite descriptions do not belong to the category of singular terms. 2 Russell introduces these * This research is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

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Section: Related Research and Plan Of This Papermentioning

confidence: 99%

Incomplete Symbols — Definite Descriptions Revisited

Gratzl

2015

J Philos Logic

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“…In Oppenheimer and Zalta [1991], we formulated Anselm's ontological argument in a predicate calculus having the following three distinguishing features:…”

Section: A Review Of the Ontological Argumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intuitively, this tells us that well-defined definite descriptions ıxφ can be substituted for the free variable x everywhere inside φ. The derivations of all three logical theorems appear in Oppenheimer and Zalta [1991]. Concerning (2), we used a free logic for definite descriptions so that it would be clear that definite descriptions can't be substituted into universal claims without first knowing that they are well-defined.…”

Section: A Review Of the Ontological Argumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Computationally-Discovered Simplification of the Ontological Argument

Oppenheimer

Zalta

2011

Australasian Journal of Philosophy

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The authors investigate the ontological argument computationally. The premises and conclusion of the argument are represented in the syntax understood by the automated reasoning engine prover9. Using the logic of definite descriptions, the authors developed a valid representation of the argument that required three non-logical premises. prover9, however, discovered a simpler valid argument for God's existence from a single non-logical premise. Reducing the argument to one non-logical premise brings the investigation of the soundness of the argument into better focus. Also, the simpler representation of the argument brings out clearly how the ontological argument constitutes an early example of a 'diagonal argument' and, moreover, one used to establish a positive conclusion rather than a paradox. * This paper is published in the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 89 (2) (June 2011): 333-350. The authors would like to thank Branden Fitelson for introducing us to otter, prover9, and mace4, and Bill McCune for answering our questions about them.

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“…Oppy (2009) contains helpful extractions of interpretations by Lewis (1970), Adams (1971), Barnes (1972), and Oppenheimer & Zalta (1991). Oppy (2009) contains helpful extractions of interpretations by Lewis (1970), Adams (1971), Barnes (1972), and Oppenheimer & Zalta (1991).…”

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The relevance of Kant's objection to Anselm's ontological argument

Heathwood

2010

Rel. Stud.

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The most famous objection to the ontological argument is given in Kant's dictum that existence is not a real predicate. But it is not obvious how this slogan is supposed to relate to the ontological argument. Some, most notably Alvin Plantinga, have even judged Kant's dictum to be totally irrelevant to Anselm's version of the ontological argument. In this paper I argue, against Plantinga and others, that Kant's claim is indeed relevant to Anselm's argument, in the straightforward sense that if the claim is true, then Anselm's argument is unsound.

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On the Logic of the Ontological Argument

Cited by 20 publications

References 11 publications

Incomplete Symbols — Definite Descriptions Revisited

Incomplete Symbols — Definite Descriptions Revisited

A Computationally-Discovered Simplification of the Ontological Argument

The relevance of Kant's objection to Anselm's ontological argument

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