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6 - Experiential arguments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2010

Graham Oppy
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
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Summary

A simple version of an experiential ontological argument is the following:

  1. The word ‘God’ is not susceptible of an explicit definition but is a term whose meaning can only be had on the basis of religious experience. (Premise)

  2. A body of experience adequate as a basis for an understanding of this term must also be adequate as an evidential basis for assent to the proposition that God exists. (Premise)

  3. (Hence) A denial of God's existence is indicative of a failure to grasp the meaning of the word ‘God’. (From 1,2)

Rescher (1959a) notes that there seem to be words of which it is plausible to claim that their meaning can only be grasped on the basis of experience. In particular, this seems true of words that designate experiences or aspects of experience - words for perceptual contents (colors, odors), words for sensational contents (aches, pains), words for feelings (alacrity, lethargy), and words for emotions (anger, delight). But, given that there are some words of which it is true to say that their meaning can only be grasped on the basis of experience, why should it be thought unreasonable to hold that the meaning of the word ‘God’ can only be had on the basis of religious experience?

There are a number of observations that need to be made.

As things stand, we don't really have here an a priori argument for the existence of God.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1996

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  • Experiential arguments
  • Graham Oppy, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Ontological Arguments and Belief in God
  • Online publication: 05 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511663840.009
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  • Experiential arguments
  • Graham Oppy, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Ontological Arguments and Belief in God
  • Online publication: 05 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511663840.009
Available formats
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  • Experiential arguments
  • Graham Oppy, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Ontological Arguments and Belief in God
  • Online publication: 05 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511663840.009
Available formats
×