Reverse Ontological Argument

Analysis 82 (3):410-416 (2022)
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Abstract

Modal ontological arguments argue from the possible existence of a perfect being to the actual (necessary) existence of a perfect being. But modal ontological arguments have a problem of symmetry; they can be run in both directions. Reverse ontological arguments argue from the possible nonexistence of a perfect being to the actual (necessary) nonexistence of a perfect being. Some familiar points about the necessary a posteriori, however, show that the symmetry can be broken in favour of the ontological argument.

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James Collin
VinUniversity

Citations of this work

Ontological arguments.Graham Oppy - 2014 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Symmetry's revenge.Joseph C. Schmid - 2023 - Analysis 83 (4):723-731.
Modal Ontological Arguments.Gregory R. P. Stacey - 2023 - Philosophy Compass 18 (8):e12938.

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References found in this work

The Nature of Necessity.Alvin Plantinga - 1974 - Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
Naming and Necessity.Saul Kripke - 1980 - Philosophy 56 (217):431-433.
Naming and Necessity.Saul Kripke - 1980 - Critica 17 (49):69-71.
Naming and Necessity.S. Kripke - 1972 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 45 (4):665-666.
Fundamentality.Tuomas E. Tahko - 2023 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

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