In this paper I will argue that Anselm’s ontological argument, that God exists, does not work, because there is not a clear definition of what it really means to exist, and his overall statement is hopelessly vague. In Anselm’s Proslogion, Anselm discusses the key elements in his argument about why “God is which nothing greater can be thought” (Anselm, Proslogion,7). Anselm begins his ontological argument by insisting that one cannot imagine a God that is greater, and that even non-believers have some conception of the western God. Anselm argues that even though non- believers do not believe that God exist, they do have an understanding of God in their mind, so that means that God exist in reality. Anselm then concludes that since they have
Arguments against St. Anselm’s Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
St. Anselm begins with a definition of God, argues that an existent God is superior to a non-existent God and concludes that God must exist in reality, for his non-existence would contradict the definition of God itself.
The argument does not seem plausible to an unbiased person, even at the very first reading. It seems as if not all aspects of the question under scrutiny have been considered. The basic assumption, on which the entire argument stands, that God is a being than which none greater can be imagined can seem doubtful to a person who doubts the existence of God, for if one doubts that there is a being than which no greater can be conceived, then he may also be sceptical if any person has thoughts about the same being, whose existence itself is doubtful.
Intro
Throughout this essay, a question will present itself as to if the ontological argument can be accepted. To accomplish the task at hand, we shall analyze; firstly, the ontological argument from both Anselm and Descartes. Secondly, we shall discuss the argument for the existence of Fido, and why it does and does not look reasonable (which will answer (i)). Afterwards, questions (ii) and (iii) will be answered, followed by a rejection of the ontological argument from Gaunilo, and then an argument in the defence of the ontological argument from the Internet.
Short Essay #2
In Chapter 2 of the Proslogion, Anselm presents his famous ontological argument for the existence of God. This argument can be formally summarized into five premises. The first premise that Anselm presents is “you exist, as we believe. ”(Proslogion, Ch.2)
The Ontological Argument, which argues from a definition of God’s being to his existence, is the first type of argument we are going to examine. Since this argument was founded by Saint Anslem, we will be examining his writings. Saint Anslem starts by defining God as an all-perfect being, or rather as a being containing all conceivable perfections. Now if in addition of possessing all conceivable perfections t...
What Anselm also didn’t cover was the fact of God being a Personal God. When Anselm came up with the line of reasoning known as the Ontological Argument. His argument provides no place or a need for the perfect being to be personal. Which is a big deal being a christian, believing in Inc...
Anselm's second contention guarantees that God is endless, boundless, by or in time and in this way has important presence and is an essential being. Anselm contends that it is smarter to be a vital being than an unexpected being, a being that relies upon different things for its reality i.e. having a reason/end since this would eventually constrain your energy. He clarifies that God must be an important being on account of if God exists as an unexpected being we could envision more noteworthy, hence God would not be that than which no more noteworthy can be considered. A being which can't be imagined not to exist must be more prominent than one that can be considered not to exist. Anselm at that point clarifies it would be a self logical inconsistency
The Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Canterbury Anselm endeavors to prove an ontological, or existential, argument for the presence of what he referred to as "God." He begins this pursuit by giving the subject of his attention a description summed up in the words "That, than which no greater can be conceived." The author of The Great Conversation a Historical introduction to Philosophy, Norman Melchert believes that the formulation of this designation shows a desire of Anselm to not have limits imposed by mankind's meager mental faculties upon his "God." Melchert also proposes that Anselm's carefully worded descriptor is rejecting mankind's ability to understand "a positive conception of God."
St. Anselm’s Perspective on the God Question
St. Anselm begins his defense of the existence of God with several simple premises. First, he defines God as the highest conceivable being, “that than which no greater being can be conceived.” Next, Anselm supposes that it is greater to exist in reality than it is to exist in understanding alone. Any being, action, or theory that exists solely in one’s mind is of less value than that which exists outside of the mind. Therefore, because God is already accepted as being the greatest conceivable entity, God must exist in reality and not only consciousness, as if God existed in understanding alone, any entity that existed in reality would be greater than God, “assuredly that, than which nothing greater
Over the years, there have been various interpretations given on what Descartes really meant in his ontological argument. However, most of given interpretations only examines the simple meaning of existence but Descartes arguments looks at existence in relation to the perfection of God. In short, what Descartes is claiming is that there is no any other way that he can examine the context of G...