1. Chapter 2. of Ontological Argument
Anselm was a philosopher and leader of the church in 11th Century in England. He believed in defending the Christian faith and he gained much recognition from his work and the Ontological Argument. From the Ontological Argument, Anselm expresses, "fides quarens intellectum", which translates to "faith in search of understanding". In his argument, he raises several points that persuade the reader. One of them being that God's existence is not only in the mind, but also in reality. The atheist or fool understands that there is something than which nothing greater can be imagined. With this in mind, atheists have an idea of God, but it is up to them whether they choose to believe or not. Ideas are strictly different from reality, and reality is greater than ideas from the mind. Anselm's Ontological Argument easily persuades one who is already a believer in God. .
God can be compared as ideas and reality. The reality of God is greater than the idea of God. "And surely that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought cannot exist in the mind alone. For if it exist solely in the mind, it can be thought to exist in reality also, which is greater." An idea of God can be thought, but it must exist outside in reality, in the mind and in the object of thought for God to be the greatest Being. The painter Anselm uses is a good example, "Thus when a painter plans beforehand what he is going to execute, he has [the picture] in his mind, but he does not yet think that it actually exists because he has not yet executed it. However, when he has actually painted it, then he both has it in his mind and understands that it exists because he has now made it." The painter can picture what he wants to paint in his head, but until he paints it, it does not exist. Another example is when a poem title is read, the meaning of the poem may not be developed until the poem has been read. God exists in our mind in which we use to think that there is no Being which is greater.
Many debates are centered around the topic of the existence of God. People have given what they believe are rational proofs for definite existence, as well as non- existence. When all is said and done, there is no definite proof either way, and we are left to look at the arguments and make a leap of...
St. Anselm‟s Ontological Argument is certainly one of the most famous arguments in the history of philosophy. Anselm argues for the existence of God based on deductive reasoning and inferences of existence. ... Anselm‟s Argument Anselm presents his argument based upon reductio ad absurdum by using reason and logic in order to draw a conclusion that it would be absurd to reject God's existence. ... What Anselm argues is that God is "nothing greater can be conceived" which he intends to mean "objectively more worthy or better than" (Anselm). ...
Philosophical problems with Christ St. Anselm "Why God Became Man" First we must understand that Anselm believed that faith and reason are two sources of human knowledge. ... The picture is not only fitting for Anselm, but it is appropriate and above all it is perfect. ... For Anselm and also for Aquinas God had to become man to help man repay his debt to God for his sins. ... {Anselm pg. 104} This shows a perfect symmetry for all that was to happen in the picture. ...
"The Ontological Argument" In Saint Anselm and Gaunilo's "The Ontological Argument", Anselm believes that God is the greatest of all conceivable things and nothing else can be thought to exist greater than God. St. Anselm states that he wants to find a proof of God, not because he does not believ...
St. Anselm's version of the ontological argument, is perhaps the most famous and arises in, "The Proslogion." Anselm deduces the existence of God, from the concept of God, and therefore his argument is a priori. "Proslogion Two," states, "God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived," even the fool, whom Anselm is trying to refute, must have an understanding of the idea God according to Anselm. ... On the other hand, John Hick questions Anselm's definition of necessary existence, and argues Anselm was not using modern reason to support his faith. ...
The question of the existence of God has troubled mankind for thousands of years. Although the existence of God was once never denied, as His presence, His existence was evident in miracles and the people's faith. But time and the advancement of modern science have called God and His very nature int...
The most well known form of the Ontological Argument was thought of by St Anselm of Canterbury. ... Anselm states that the answer must be yes. ... Anselm said that existence is a necessary part of the idea of God. ... Gaunilo was a contemporary of Anselm, and he accused Anselm of being absurd. ... Bertrand Russell claimed that Anselm's use of the word, "Exist." ...