tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891434218564545511.post7326863973429787336..comments2024-03-27T20:37:09.185-05:00Comments on Alexander Pruss's Blog: The argument from beautyAlexander R Prusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05989277655934827117noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891434218564545511.post-30638717978186713772009-09-15T13:29:51.887-05:002009-09-15T13:29:51.887-05:00Though, now that I think about it, I don't thi...Though, now that I think about it, I don't think this is true..James Bejonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05842862598659108841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891434218564545511.post-4704276389714202142009-09-15T13:24:22.520-05:002009-09-15T13:24:22.520-05:00Alex: Maybe only someone who is the ground of bein...<i>Alex: Maybe only someone who is the ground of being has the right to do these things, though?</i><br /><br />Maybe. Or maybe, for instance, (5) could be thought to express a necessary truth. In which case, in order for there not to be possible worlds where it's false that such a dictator should be punished, God must exist necessarily?James Bejonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05842862598659108841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891434218564545511.post-7159979096688560322009-09-15T11:04:59.012-05:002009-09-15T11:04:59.012-05:00Clever! One worry is that for this to be the star...Clever! One worry is that for this to be the start of an ontological argument, you need the being to be like God in respect of necessary existence. But it's not clear that necessary existence is needed for forgiving or punishing, is it? (Maybe only someone who is the ground of being has the right to do these things, though?)Alexander R Prusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05989277655934827117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891434218564545511.post-37582461572605799732009-09-15T08:40:41.343-05:002009-09-15T08:40:41.343-05:00I'm afraid this is completely unrelated to the...I'm afraid this is completely unrelated to the argument from beauty. So, if I'm being rude, please feel free (Alex) to delete my post. But I was wondering what people thought about the following question, namely: With a bit of work and detailing of terms, do you think I can get from (1) to (4):<br /><br />(1) It would be good for a murderer S to be forgiven of his wrongdoings<br /><br />(2) Therefore it must be possible for S to be forgiven of his wrongdoings<br /><br />(3) Only a being very much like God could plausibly effect such forgiveness<br /><br />(4) Therefore it is possible that God exists (meaning we have a starting point for some kind of ontological argument).<br /><br />Or perhaps differently:<br /><br />(5) Some dictator (S) whose life has been characterised by bloodshed and luxurious living should be punished for his wrongdoings<br /><br />(6) Therefore it must be possible to punish S<br /><br />(7) God is the only being who could plausibly be thought to implement such punishment<br /><br />(8) Therefore it is possible that God exists.<br /><br />Thoughts?James Bejonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05842862598659108841noreply@blogger.com