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What is St. Anselm's ontological proof for the existence of God?
Question
#106163. Asked by star_gazer. (Jun 08 09 12:38 PM)
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Datsmeharse
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If one were to agree that existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone, then a being which none greater can be conceived in the mind must exist in reality, and this being would be God.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proslogion
St. Anselm says that the crux of his argument -- that the mind can't possibly conceive of an existence greater than what exists in reality -- is a given, so that is his proof.
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star_gazer
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This explains it more clearly:
1. One can imagine a being than which none greater can be conceived.
2. We know that existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone.
3. If the being we imagine exists only in our mind, then it is not a "being than which none greater can be conceived".
4. A being than which none greater can be conceived must also exist in reality.
5. Failure to exist in reality would be failure to be a being than which none greater can be conceived.
6. Thus a being than which none greater can be conceived must exist, and we call this being God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proslogion
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Baloo55th
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So if Fred cannot conceive that there is a greater being than Fred, for Fred therefore Fred is God. That way madness lies.... (Baloo was modest and used Fred as an example....)
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