It is Logically Impossible that a Maximally Great Being Exists.

So, this is an argument that I’ve been playing around with a bit. It centers around the notion that a maximally great being cannot exist because a greater being is always conceivable, rendering the proposition of such a being existing illogical. The argument is as follows: P1. If a maximally great being could exist, it would be greater than any other conceivable being. P2. There must exist a finite number of stars in the galaxy at any given time. P3. If there must exist a finite number of stars in the galaxy at any given time, then a maximally great being could only create a finite number of stars at any given time. P4. If a maximally great being could only create a finite number of stars at any given time, then there is always another number greater than this number. P5. If there is always another number greater than this number, I could then always conceive of a being that could create a greater number of stars than this great being. P6. If I could conceive of a being that could create a greater number of stars than this great being, then I am conceiving of a being greater than the great being. P7. If I can always conceive of a being greater than the great being, then no being is the greatest. C. Therefore, a maximally great being cannot not exist. The argument is logically valid as the conclusion follows from the premises. I find the premises to be fairly obviously true: P1. If a maximally great being could exist, it is greater than any other conceivable being. This premise has already been agreed to by my opponent through his acceptance of my definitions. P2. There must exist a finite number of stars in the galaxy at any given time. The idea of an infinite number of stars existing in the galaxy at any given time is an incoherent one, as actual infinities contradict certain necessary truths. Not only can we say that there exists now a finite number of stars, but because the possibility of having an infinite number of stars at any given time is really an impossibility, we can say that in no possible world can there exist an infinite number of stars at any given time. Logical and mathematical truths are necessary truths, in other words, things that are true in every possible world, including the actual world. 2+1=3 is true in every possible world. We know this because mathematical propositions are true by definition. The number two is defined, in part, by the fact that when added to itself, the number four is achieved. In know possible world can there exist a square triangle. We know this to be true because of the logical contradiction this would entail: Triangles are, by definition, not squares. The existence of an actual infinity (an infinite number of stars, socks, space in the Universe,etc.) would contradict necessary logical and mathematical truths, meaning that such an infinity cannot exist, given that logical and mathematical truths are necessary truths. One way to demonstrate the impossibility of infinities is using the law of identity, which states rather simply that everything is the same as what it is and is different from what it is not. This law is fundamental to both logic and math. So, let’s apply this law using the number one. We can say that the number one can be identified in part by the fact that any one added to any number, is equal to one greater than that number. So: 2+1=3. But, infinity defies this, as ∞+1=∞. One added to infinity should be one greater than infinity, but it results in just infinity, thus defying one’s properties of identity, as well as the identities of all other numbers. For, the equation expresses that: 0=1=2=3=..., since ∞+1=∞+2+∞+3=∞. Yet, we know that one is not equal to two because the law of identity tells us that different things are different. So, we can then rule out the existence of actual infinities because their existence would contradict necessary truths. P3. If there must exist a finite number of stars in the galaxy at any given time, then a MGB could only create a finite number of stars at any given time. Clearly, if there must be a finite number of stars at any given time, then a MGB could not create an infinite number of stars at any given time (should it be possible for it to exist), given that we have agreed that this MGB must by subject to the rules of logic. P4. If a maximally great being could only create a finite number of stars at any given time, then there is always another number greater than this number. No matter what that finite number is that a MGB could create, there is always another number that is greater. For example, if a MGB could create 100,000,000,000 stars, 100,000,000,001 is a greater number. P5. If there is always another number greater than this number, I could then always conceive of a being that could create a greater number of stars than this great being. It follows then, that a being that could create 100,000,000,001 stars is conceivable. P6. If I could conceive of a being that could create a greater number of stars than this great being, then I am conceiving of a being greater than the great being. And since this being can create one more star, this being is greater than the great being. P7. If I can always conceive of a being greater than the great being, then no being is the greatest. As a MGB is a being that is greater than all other conceivable beings and I can conceive of a greater being, no being is the greatest. C.Therefore, a maximally great being cannot not exist. Since the conclusion follows from the premises, if the premises are true, the conclusion is true as well. That’s all for now, folks. I turn it over to Con and look forward to his response.