Kant's Critique of Ontological Argument
Immanuel Kant's philosophical objection that 'existence is not a predicate.' Kant argued that existence is not a property that can be added to a concept; it is the positing of a thing itself. Therefore, one cannot move logically from a concept (God) to God's actual existence by treating existence as an additional property.
Real World
Describing a £100 note as 'green, rectangular, and existing' does not add a new property — the note with and without 'existing' has the same characteristics. Kant argued that Anselm made this same error by treating existence as something extra God could possess.
Exam Focus
Use Kant's own phrase 'existence is not a real predicate' and explain it clearly — examiners reward precise philosophical terminology.
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