Single Idea 8644

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / b. Ontological Proof critique]

Full Idea

Because existence is a property of concepts the ontological argument for the existence of God breaks down.

Gist of Idea

Because existence is a property of concepts the ontological argument for God fails

Source

Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884], §53)

Book Reference

Frege,Gottlob: 'The Foundations of Arithmetic (Austin)', ed/tr. Austin,J.L. [Blackwell 1980], p.65


A Reaction

The point being that existence (like number) is not a property of actual things. His proposition sounds rather dubious. The concept of unicorns exists quite entertainingly; it is the failure of actual unicorns to exist that is so heartbreaking.