What does Anselm mean by defining God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived?
Anselm defined God as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived”, and argued that this being must exist in the mind; even in the mind of the person who denies the existence of God. He suggested that, if the greatest possible being exists in the mind, it must also exist in reality.
What is St Anselm’s argument?
Anselm claims to derive the existence of God from the concept of a being than which no greater can be conceived. St. Anselm reasoned that, if such a being fails to exist, then a greater being—namely, a being than which no greater can be conceived, and which exists—can be conceived.
Why is Anselm’s ontological argument wrong?
He argued that many theists would accept that God, by nature, cannot be fully comprehended. Therefore, if humans cannot fully conceive of God, the ontological argument cannot work. Anselm responded to Gaunilo’s criticism by arguing that the argument applied only to concepts with necessary existence.
What is Anselm’s ontological argument quizlet?
ANSELM – THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT: What is the argument? 1) God is GREATER than anything anyone could ever CONCIEVE of. 3) Therefore, God exists in the UNDERSTANDING. 4) It is BETTER to exist in REALITY than it is to exist in the UNDERSTANDING alone.
Who is Anselm philosophy?
Saint Anselm was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the eleventh century. He is most famous in philosophy for having discovered and articulated the so-called “ontological argument;” and in theology for his doctrine of the atonement.
Is Anselm’s argument valid?
Anselm’s argument is difficult to follow. This argument seems to be valid, since the truth of the premises would guarantee the truth of the conclusion. And it also seems to be sound, since, in addition, the premises seem to be true.
Which of the following best characterizes the position Anselm argues for?
Which of the following best characterizes the position Anselm argues for? If God exists in one’s understanding, necessarily God exists.
What is Anselm’s definition of God quizlet?
Anselm’s Ontological Argument. 1) The definition of God “God is being than which nothing greater can be conceived” 2) Something that exists in reality is greater than something that just exists in thought. 3) If there us no being greater than God then God must exist in reality as well as in thought.
How to present Anselm’s argument as a reductio?
Here is one way to present Anselm’s argument as a reductio : 1. God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. (Definition) 2. God exists in the mind, but not in reality. (Premise to be reduced to absurdity) 3. Existence in reality is greater than existence in the understanding alone.
What did St Anselm believe?
St. Anselm (1033-1109), a member of the Bene- dictine Order and Bishop of Canterbury, extended the Augustine tradition of seeking to believe in order to understand the truth and existence of God rather that seeking to understand in order to believe in the truth and exis- tence of God.
What is Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God?
Anselm’s Ontological Argument for the Existence of God Anselm’s argument is an a priori argument; that is, it is an argument that is independent of experience and based solely on concepts and logical relations, like a mathematical proof. The form of the argument is that of a reductio ad absurdum argument. Such an argument works like this:
Was Anselm a good Archbishop?
His instincts, in fact, have proved correct: Anselm is remembered today not merely as a great archbishop but as one of the most profound thinkers of the Middle Ages. The struggle between the scholarly life and that of high office began in Anselm’s earliest years.