Skip to main content
SWStudyWalks Search

Philosophy / Unit 3   Philosophy 0117 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Gaunilo's Island

Captions available

The idea

Gaunilo's parody objection: by the same reasoning, a greatest conceivable island must exist—so the reasoning proves too much to prove anything.

In practice

Define the perfect island; note that existing is more perfect than not existing; conclude the island exists. Nobody books the trip.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it  ·  Sources for Philosophy