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Single Idea 19653
[filed under theme 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
]
Full Idea
Since Descartes conceives of God as existing necessarily, whether I exist to think of him or not, Descartes assures me of a possible access to an absolute reality - a Great Outdoors that is not a correlate of my thought.
Gist of Idea
The ontological proof of a necessary God ensures a reality external to the mind
Source
Quentin Meillassoux (After Finitude; the necessity of contingency [2006], 2)
Book Ref
Meillassoux: 'After Finitude: the necessity of contingency', ed/tr. Brassier,R [Bloomsbury 2008], p.29
A Reaction
His point is that the ontological argument should be seen as part of the scientific revolution, and not an anomaly within it. Interesting.
The
25 ideas
from Quentin Meillassoux
19648
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Since Kant we think we can only access 'correlations' between thinking and being
[Meillassoux]
|
19649
|
Since Kant, objectivity is defined not by the object, but by the statement's potential universality
[Meillassoux]
|
19651
|
Unlike speculative idealism, transcendental idealism assumes the mind is embodied
[Meillassoux]
|
19647
|
The aspects of objects that can be mathematical allow it to have objective properties
[Meillassoux]
|
19652
|
How can we mathematically describe a world that lacks humans?
[Meillassoux]
|
19650
|
The transcendental subject is not an entity, but a set of conditions making science possible
[Meillassoux]
|
19654
|
We must give up the modern criterion of existence, which is a correlation between thought and being
[Meillassoux]
|
19653
|
The ontological proof of a necessary God ensures a reality external to the mind
[Meillassoux]
|
19658
|
Now that the absolute is unthinkable, even atheism is just another religious belief (though nihilist)
[Meillassoux]
|
19656
|
Non-contradiction is unjustified, so it only reveals a fact about thinking, not about reality?
[Meillassoux]
|
19657
|
In Kant the thing-in-itself is unknowable, but for us it has become unthinkable
[Meillassoux]
|
19663
|
We can allow contradictions in thought, but not inconsistency
[Meillassoux]
|
19664
|
Paraconsistent logics are to prevent computers crashing when data conflicts
[Meillassoux]
|
19665
|
Paraconsistent logic is about statements, not about contradictions in reality
[Meillassoux]
|
19659
|
The absolute is the impossibility of there being a necessary existent
[Meillassoux]
|
19662
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It is necessarily contingent that there is one thing rather than another - so something must exist
[Meillassoux]
|
19660
|
Possible non-being which must be realised is 'precariousness'; absolute contingency might never not-be
[Meillassoux]
|
19671
|
The idea of chance relies on unalterable physical laws
[Meillassoux]
|
19667
|
If the laws of nature are contingent, shouldn't we already have noticed it?
[Meillassoux]
|
19670
|
Why are contingent laws of nature stable?
[Meillassoux]
|
19666
|
If we insist on Sufficient Reason the world will always be a mystery to us
[Meillassoux]
|
19668
|
Hume's question is whether experimental science will still be valid tomorrow
[Meillassoux]
|
19677
|
What is mathematically conceivable is absolutely possible
[Meillassoux]
|
19675
|
Since Kant, philosophers have claimed to understand science better than scientists do
[Meillassoux]
|
19674
|
The Copernican Revolution decentres the Earth, but also decentres thinking from reality
[Meillassoux]
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