This position is the first of the three ikkarim put forth by Joseph Albo. Al-Farabi updated an earlier philosopher’s idea of emanationism to center around this position. One statement for this position notes how “a thing is said to be hotter” as it “more nearly resembles that which is hottest.” To support this position, William Lane Craig uses an argument put forth by the (*) kalām school of philosophy. A refutation by Gaunilo concerning a “lost island” was used against an argument for this position from the Proslogion. Contingency and the Unmoved Mover are two of the “five ways” arguing for this position in Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. For 10 points, St. Anselm’s ontological argument argues for what theological position rejected by atheists? ■END■
ANSWER: existence of God [accept God exists or other equivalents; accept answers relating that God created the universe; accept the First Cause; prompt on specific arguments like the kalām cosmological argument or the ontological argument by asking, “What does that argue for?”]
<MM, Philosophy>
= Average correct buzz position