Anselm - Proslogium 2

Anselm's argument is:

• a priori:
  • this type of argument is prior to and independent of sense experience
  • it is non-empirical in nature
  • it relies on logic
• deductive:
  • this type of argument aims to give certain proof
  • if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true
  • a set of premises is a set of propositions on which an argument is based or from which a conclusion might be drawn, e.g. if a=b and b=c then a=c

Analytic statements:

• These are based on logic.
• They are true by definition - for example, a bachelor is an unmarried male.

Subject and predicate:

• The subject refers to who/what the sentence is about.
• The predicate gives information about the subject.
• Complete sentences contain these, e.g. 
  • The cat sat on the mat - 'the cat' is the subject, 'sat on the mat' is the predicate

Necessary truth relates to statements that could not…