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an outline of anselm's ontological argument
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps.14:1)
This must be greater than something whose non-existence can
be conceived. So, if this thing (than which no greater can be
conceived) can be conceived as not existing, then, that very
thing than which a greater thing cannot be conceived is not that
than which a greater thing cannot be thought. This is a
contradiction. So it is true that there exists something than
which nothing greater can be conceived, that it cannot be
conceived as not existing.
1.If one can think of the fool’s god, then one can think of
Anselm’s God. [Both the fool’s god and Anselm’s God can be said
to exist in the intellect].
2. If one can think of Anselm’s God then the fool’s god is no
God because it doesn’t satisfy the definition of God [Any God
worthy of the name cannot be conceived as not existing.
Therefore the god of the fool never was].
3. Only Anselm’s God can satisfy the definition of God.
4. Only God can exist in reality and in the intellect [i.e.,
God belongs to a class of one, of things which if he is in the
intellect he must also be in reality] .
5. Therefore God, being what he is must exist not only in the
intellect but outside it as well.
6. Therefore God is. |
