The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God
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The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God (original German title: Der einzig mögliche Beweisgrund zu einer Demonstration des Daseins Gottes) is a book by Immanuel Kant
, published in 1763. It questions both the ontological argument
for God (as proposed by Saint Anselm
) and the argument from design. Kant argues that the internal possibility of all things presupposes some existence:
Kant then argues that this necessary thing must have all the characteristics commonly ascribed to God. Therefore God necessarily exists. This a priori
step in Kant's argument
is followed by a step a posteriori
, in which he establishes the necessity of an absolutely necessary being. He argues that matter
itself contains the principles which give rise to an ordered universe
, and this, according to his line of thinking, leads us to the concept of God as a Supreme Being, which "embraces within itself everything which can be thought by man." "God includes all that is possible or real."
"[T]he very substantial and favourable review published by Mendelson ... was responsible for establishing Kant's reputation in Germany as a major philosopher."
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
, published in 1763. It questions both the ontological argument
Ontological argument
The ontological argument for the existence of God is an a priori argument for the existence of God. The ontological argument was first proposed by the eleventh-century monk Anselm of Canterbury, who defined God as the greatest possible being we can conceive...
for God (as proposed by Saint Anselm
Saint Anselm
Saint Anselm may be* Saint Anselm College - a Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire.* Saint Anselm of Canterbury* Saint Anselm of Lucca the Younger* Saint Anselm, Duke of Friuli...
) and the argument from design. Kant argues that the internal possibility of all things presupposes some existence:
Accordingly, there must be something whose nonexistence would cancel all internal possibility whatsoever. This is a necessary thing.
Kant then argues that this necessary thing must have all the characteristics commonly ascribed to God. Therefore God necessarily exists. This a priori
A priori and a posteriori (philosophy)
The terms a priori and a posteriori are used in philosophy to distinguish two types of knowledge, justifications or arguments...
step in Kant's argument
Argument
In philosophy and logic, an argument is an attempt to persuade someone of something, or give evidence or reasons for accepting a particular conclusion.Argument may also refer to:-Mathematics and computer science:...
is followed by a step a posteriori
A Posteriori
Apart from the album, some additional remixes were released exclusively through the iTunes Store. They are:*"Eppur si muove" – 6:39*"Dreaming of Andromeda" Apart from the album, some additional remixes were released exclusively through the iTunes Store. They are:*"Eppur si muove" (Tocadisco...
, in which he establishes the necessity of an absolutely necessary being. He argues that matter
Matter
Matter is a general term for the substance of which all physical objects consist. Typically, matter includes atoms and other particles which have mass. A common way of defining matter is as anything that has mass and occupies volume...
itself contains the principles which give rise to an ordered universe
Fine-tuned universe
The fine-tuned universe is the proposition that the conditions that allow life in the Universe can only occur when certain universal fundamental physical constants lie within a very narrow range, so that if any of several fundamental constants were only slightly different the universe would be...
, and this, according to his line of thinking, leads us to the concept of God as a Supreme Being, which "embraces within itself everything which can be thought by man." "God includes all that is possible or real."
"[T]he very substantial and favourable review published by Mendelson ... was responsible for establishing Kant's reputation in Germany as a major philosopher."