The Ontological Argument: Anselm

Question 1

Anselm: proves god is

Answer 1

Logically necessaryHis argument cannot not be trueAn A Priori truth

Question 2

Anselm: definition of god

Answer 2

“god is that than which noting greater can be conceived”A’s argument is based on the fact that even an ethicist would believe that this definition of god is true

Question 3

Anselm: proof

Answer 3

god is the greatest conceivable thing Somthing that exists in the mind, is not greater than somthing that exists in reality Therefore, god must exists in reality

Question 4

Gaunilo’s response

Answer 4

if I can think of the greatest island, it therefore must exists You could ague that anything has necessary existence, you could conceive that anything is possible → this is absurd

Question 5

Anselm’s second argument
(Response to Gaunilo)

Answer 5

an Island is contingent, it can be though of not existing God is contingent, an therefore necessary God is the greatest possible being The island would be the greatest actual island

Question 6

Anselm: Aquinas 3 points

Answer 6

we do not have an agreed definition of god, many people have differnt ideas of what it is Infallible creatures, like humans cannot understand the full definition of godWe can reason good, instead from his actions in the world