Mendelssohn

Question 1

Existence of God

Answer 1

• Mendelssohn used a modification of the ontological principle. That humanity has an idea of God, because this idea commit have come from existence
• There must be a connection between the idea of an absolutely perfect being and its existence, as existence must be the one it attributes

Question 2

Free will

Answer 2

• If every act of will has a cause, then human freedom (an uncashed act) cannot exist. Therefore, how can someone who is not truly responsible be responsible for their needs

Question 3

Immortality of the Soul

Answer 3

• Immortality of the soul was developed in Phaedon in 1767, it was modelled on Plato’s Phaedo. There is an infinite number of souls that form the inner part of the universe

Question 4

Belief in God

Answer 4

Mendelssohn beloved that the idea of God exists naturally within us. He thought that humans have an instinctive sense of a “perfect being” and this idea itself shows that God must exist

Question 5

Relevance of Mendelssohn’s Ideas in todays world: Religious Tolerance

Answer 5

• Mendelssohn believed that reason (thinking logically) and faith (belief in God) could go together. He argues that people should be free and choose their religion and that nobody should be forced to believe anything

Question 6

Relevance of Mendelssohns Ideas in Today’s world: Universal Morality

Answer 6

• Mendelssohn’s belief in God’s goodness led him to believe that everyone had a chance to find goodness and redemption. This idea fits with well within today’s focus on human rights and equality

Question 7

Cosmological Arguments

Answer 7

• The argument that everything in existence must have a cause, which ultimately leads back to the ‘first cause’ or God.
• Mendelssohn argued that the universe is contingent - it depends on something else for its existence

Question 8

Perfect Being

Answer 8

• Mendelssohn describes God as embodying all positive attributes, such as goodness, justice and knowledge to the highest possible degree