Thinkers in the Medieval Period were preoccupied with problems surrounding the existence of God. Avicenna took up the problem of the necessity of God’s existence. He solves the problem by resolving a series of issues surrounding it. Our reading this week provides a good explanation of his proof and does so in only one and a half pages of text. The shortness of this argument provides us with a good opportunity to examine a complex philosophical argument and to judge its effectiveness. The author of our text explains the argument step-by-step, and shares with us both the difficulties with each step and the insight it provides.
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Avicenna. Source: Flickr. Creative Commons.

For your assignment this week, in your own words, explain the problem Avicenna wishes to solve, and then paraphrase each of the steps in his argument and his final solution. What insights do the steps provide in our understanding of God? Can you think of any arguments that would counter Avicenna’s claim?

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