1. Chapter 2. of Ontological Argument
God in reality is greater than the idea of God in our mind. We have the advantage of being able to think of this Being which is greater, but we must apply Him to reality in order to understand there is nothing greater. Using the idea of the poem title, when it is read, for example "The River of Blue", it may be known to someone why it has its title. When the poem is read, the reality of it will become clear of why it is called "The River of Blue". This is much like God, we have His title of God, but we must learn and believe in Him in order to have a reality of Him. The existence of God can be present in our mind and in reality, but it is in reality at which He is greater. .
The fool or the atheist understands that there is no Being than which a greater can be thought, "But, surely, when this same Fool hears what I am speaking about, namely, "something greater-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought", he understands what he hears, and what he understands is in his mind, even if he does not understand that it actually exists." It is one thing to know something, but another to know what you know. In other words, you may know about God in your mind, but until you believe in God and are educated with faith, you do not really know Him. The atheist knows the object of God in his mind, but because he does not understand, he chooses not to know God. "I believed before through Your free gift I now so understand through Your illumination, that if I did not want to believe that You existed, I should nevertheless be unable not to understand." This is important because Anselm indicates his faith is in search of understanding. Faith and or believing, makes it is easier to understand God. From this, several conclusions can be made. For example, someone is introduced to someone at a party and they only know each other by name. They can choose whether or not to have a conversation to learn about one another.
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." ...
