Anselm and the Existence of God Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 592 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 2

Classical Ontological Argument: Anselm

The Christian philosopher Anselm's argument for the existence of God, often called the classical ontological argument, is that given that God is defined as a being that by definition is the greatest thing imaginable ("which nothing greater can be conceived") therefore God must exist since to conceive of a being greater than God is impossible; if someone conceived of something greater than that being would be God (Anselm 292). If it is impossible that God cannot be "conceived not to exist" and if a mind could conceive something to exist greater than the Creator, that mind would "rise above the Creator," which Anselm regards as "absurd" and therefore only a "fool" says that God does not exist (Anselm 292).

However, this argument seems to be tautological by defining God as a being greater than anything that can be conceived and therefore purporting the existence of God simply because the concept of something greater exists in the human mind. Also, simply because someone can conceive something greater than him or herself does not necessarily mean it exists. What if someone thought that a unicorn was God? Anselm would respond that this was merely an incorrect idea of God, presumably, but this highlights the flexibility of the human imagination. Furthermore, many atheists deny the existence of a greater being altogether and some religious systems view the godhead in terms of a pagan or pluralistic conception of the divine.

Stuck Writing Your "Anselm and the Existence of God" Essay?

View All Our Example Anselm and the Existence of God Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Does the fact that some minds cannot conceive of God, or cannot conceive of a God greater than all things mean that God is different for every person? Anselm simply regards such persons in error, but this variation of opinion highlights the challenge of using mental phenomenon as proof of God's existence.

Even during the medieval era amongst devout believers there were objectors to Anselm's argument. Gaunilo, a monk, stated that Anselm's rationale could be used to justify impossible or mythical things: he could conceive of an island more perfect than all other islands -- so perfect that no other, greater islands could exist -- but that would not make the island come into being (Gaunilo 298). Although the nonexistence of God may be "unintelligible," Gaunilo notes, that does not make it "inconceivable" (Gaunilo 299). Unreal objects are conceivable, they are simple unintelligible.

Gaunilo accepted Anselm's postulate about the need for a proof of God's existence, versus accepting existence upon faith alone. However, later, Protestant philosophers such as Kant have probed even more deeply into Anselm's assumptions. Kant has argued that assuming existence is a property which can be attributed to the character of an object is invalid. Effectively, Anselm attributes the….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Anselm And The Existence Of God" (2016, June 09) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/anselm-existence-god-2159825

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Anselm And The Existence Of God" 09 June 2016. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/anselm-existence-god-2159825>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Anselm And The Existence Of God", 09 June 2016, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/anselm-existence-god-2159825
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example