An Argument from Perfections

  1. If there is a unique feature F such that (a) necessarily, all and only perfections have F in common, and (b) if H is any other feature such that necessarily all and only perfections have H in common, then this fact is explanatorily posterior to the fact in (a), then what it is to be a perfection is to have F. (Premise)
  2. Necessarily, all and only perfections are intrinsic properties of God. (Premise)
  3. Any other feature H necessarily had by all and only perfections is such that this fact is posterior to the fact in (2). (Premise)
  4. Therefore, to be a perfection is to be an intrinsic property of God. (By 1-3)
  5. Being a perfection is a non-arbitrary feature of a property. (Premise)
  6. If x does not exist, then to be an intrinsic property of x is an arbitrary feature of a property. (Premise)
  7. Therefore, if God does not exist, then to be a perfection is an arbitrary feature of a property. (By 4 and 6)
  8. Therefore, God existrs. (By 5 and 7)

A variant:

  1. The best account of what it is to be a perfection is that it is to be an intrinsic property of God. (Premise)
  2. Therefore, the true account of what it is to be a perfection is that it is to be an intrinsic property of God. (Probabilistic inference from 1)
  3. Either there is no definition of God or God is defined in effect as the being which has all and only perfections as intrinsic properties. (Premise)
  4. If God is defined in effect as the being which has all and only perfections as intrinsic properties, then an account of perfection in terms of being had by God is a circular and (hence) false account. (Premise)
  5. Therefore, God is not defined as the being which has all and only perfections as intrinsic properties. (By 2 and 4)
  6. Therefore, there is no definition of God. (By 3 and 5)
  7. If x does not exist and has no definition, then an account of an ethically important concept does not involve x. (Premise)
  8. The concept of a perfection is ethically important. (Premise)
  9. Therefore, if God does not exist, then the true account of what it is to be a perfection does not involve God. (By 6, 7 and 8)
  10. Therefore, God exists. (By 2 and 9)