Argument From The Origin Of The Idea Of God

What is Standard Argument Form?

 

The standard form of an argument is a way of presenting the argument which makes clear which are premises, how many premises there are and which proposition is the conclusion. In standard form, the conclusion of the argument is listed last.

 

In a standard argument, you must have at least one premise and only one conclusion. 

 

 

P = Premise (add a number with each premise you add such as P3, it is your third premise). These are your reasons for your conclusion.

 

SC = Sub conclusion (use this if you need to make a conclusion in something else before the main conclusion of the arguement. Usually, this is only done if another conclusion needs to be made to get to the final conclusion).

 

C = Conclusion (This is the concluding result of your premises, this is your last statement that determines the result of the arguement).

 

Why does Standard Argumentation Matter?

 

It matters because this is the standard way widely accepted by the world as the structure and form for an academic argument. For many of the arguments that directly deal with reason, this format will  be used to show the unity with current academic tradition and christian apologetics. 

 

Origin of the Idea of God

 

P1: We have ideas of many things.

 

P2: These ideas must come from ourselves or outside sources.

 

P3: One of these ideas we have is the idea of God – an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being.

 

P4: This idea could not have been caused by ourselves, since we are limited in power, knowledge, and location. No effect can be greater than its cause.

 

P5: This idea must have been caused by an outside source which has nothing less than these qualities contained in the idea of God.

 

P6: Only God has these qualities.

 

P7: God himself must be the outside source causing this idea.

 

C: God exists.

 

Sources: Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli