PHIL 111: Introduction to Philosophy

LARKIN: Spring 2003

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DATE: 2-25-03

I. Objectives

A. Discuss the Concept of God and Some Traditional Problems with it

B. Learn the a priori/a posteriori distinction

C. Introduce the Ontological Argument for God’s Existence

II. Discussion:

What is God? What is our idea of God?

III. Lecture:

A. The Attributes of God

B. The Paradox of Omnipotence:

C. The Problem of Evil

D. The Ontological Argument

IV. Discussion:

How can the theist resist the paradox of omnipotence and the problem of evil?

V. Next Time

A. Topic: Descartes’ Argument for God

B. Reading: Descartes, “Meditation Three”

C. Reading Questions:

1. What general principle about truth does Descartes think can be derived from the arguments of Meditation Two? What problems does he raise for that principle, and how does he respond to them?

2. What is Descartes’ argument for the existence of God?

3. Why can’t Descartes himself be the source of his idea of God?

4. Explain Descartes’ argument that God must be the ‘author of his being’—i.e., the one responsible for bringing Descartes into existence.