Anselm’s Ontological Argument

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  • Created by: Sharon
  • Created on: 14-11-12 09:07
Anselm’s ontological argument is an a priori one as
it does not rely on experience but uses logic to prove the definition of God is correct and therefore God has to exist.
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Anselm defined God as
“a being than which none greater can be conceived” By “greater” Anselm meant more valuable. The definition implies that God has all the attributes or qualities of greatness that can be imagined.
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Anselm assumes that this definition will be acceptable to everyone, including atheists, because even they have an idea of God in their mind. Anselm quotes the “Fool” in the Psalms who said in his heart, “There is no God”
The fool denies God’s existence in reality but he does not and cannot deny God’s existence in his mind or understanding. If he denies something he must have an idea of what he is denying. For example, I have an idea of a unicorn even though I deny
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Anselm argues that things can exist in two ways; in the mind as an idea or in reality.
For example unicorns exist in people’s minds but not in reality. Anselm used the example of a painter. Before an artist paints a picture it exists in his mind. Then when he has painted it, the picture exists both in his mind and in reality.
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Therefore the idea of God exists in the mind, even in the minds of those who deny His existence. Anselm states that it is greater to exist
in reality than to exist just in the mind. For example a hundred silver coins that existed in reality would be far greater than the same amount existing only in the mind because it could be spent in reality
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Anselm states that the greatest conceivable being only exists in the mind. He obviously did not believe this but states it in order to show that
the idea is absurd and contradictory and so must be false. To do this he uses reductio ad absurdum, (reduction to absurdity).
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Anselm argues that if God existed only in the mind then a greater being might exist, one who exists in reality. A being that existed only in the mind cannot be the greatest conceivable being;
it lacks the extra attribute of real existence. Therefore if it is absurd and contradictory to conclude that the greatest conceivable being exists only in the mind it must be false. If it is false, then the opposite, God’s existence, must be true.
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Therefore a being “than which nothing greater can be conceived” must exist in reality otherwise He would not be the greatest possible being. An analogy can be used to demonstrate this.
Just as it is absurd to state that triangles do not have three sides, it is also absurd and contradictory to state that God is the greatest conceivable being if He does not possess the great attribute of existence.
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Anselm concluded that
there is no doubt that there exists a being “than which nothing greater can be conceived” and it exists in both the mind and in reality
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Anselm develops his argument further, attempting to show that God’s existence
is necessary, there is no possibility of Him not existing. A necessary being who has to exist is greater than one who might not exist.
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A being “than which nothing greater can be conceived” must be a necessary being.
If He was not a necessary being He would not be the greatest possible being and this would contradict the definition Therefore God’s existence is necessary, He has to exist.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

“a being than which none greater can be conceived” By “greater” Anselm meant more valuable. The definition implies that God has all the attributes or qualities of greatness that can be imagined.

Back

Anselm defined God as

Card 3

Front

The fool denies God’s existence in reality but he does not and cannot deny God’s existence in his mind or understanding. If he denies something he must have an idea of what he is denying. For example, I have an idea of a unicorn even though I deny

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

For example unicorns exist in people’s minds but not in reality. Anselm used the example of a painter. Before an artist paints a picture it exists in his mind. Then when he has painted it, the picture exists both in his mind and in reality.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

in reality than to exist just in the mind. For example a hundred silver coins that existed in reality would be far greater than the same amount existing only in the mind because it could be spent in reality

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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