An ontological argument is an a priori demonstration of the existence of God. Perhaps one of the most famous ontological arguments presented was by St. Anselm (1033-1109) who was an Archbishop of Canterbury and Abbot of Bec. He presented his argument in his book Proslogion. Anslem’s expectation for his argument was for it to help him understand the nature of God, and possibly persuade a non-believer of the existence of God. First, Anselm describes his way of classifying unknown things as truly existing or not. He states that something can exist in the understanding, meaning that if one can understand the meanings of the words that pertain to it or if it can be conceived in itself. (Rowe, p 106) For example, a watchmaker first thinks
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Anselm says that something can exist in the understanding and not in reality but if something exists in reality it must exist in the understanding. (Rowe, p 105) After the watchmaker designs the watch and builds the watch, it exists in both the understanding and in reality. Secondly, Anselm breaks down the differences of possible beings. He describes a contingent being which is a being that truly exists in reality, but possibly could not have existed, an example would be Anslem’s book; He wrote it, but he could have possibly not have written it. Next, he defines an impossible being, which cannot exist in the understanding as a round square cannot exist in the understanding. In “An Analysis of the Ontological Argument, William Rowe wrote, “unlike the round square, God is a possible being.” (Rowe, p 106) In contrast, Anselm explains a merely possible being, a being that could have existed but does not, like a sibling that could have been born. The most important being Anselm mentions is the necessary being, which is a being that exists and could not have failed to exist. The necessary being is the most important because Anselm equates God to the necessary being and states that God is greater than any possible being. (Rowe, p
Anselm says that something can exist in the understanding and not in reality but if something exists in reality it must exist in the understanding. (Rowe, p 105) After the watchmaker designs the watch and builds the watch, it exists in both the understanding and in reality. Secondly, Anselm breaks down the differences of possible beings. He describes a contingent being which is a being that truly exists in reality, but possibly could not have existed, an example would be Anslem’s book; He wrote it, but he could have possibly not have written it. Next, he defines an impossible being, which cannot exist in the understanding as a round square cannot exist in the understanding. In “An Analysis of the Ontological Argument, William Rowe wrote, “unlike the round square, God is a possible being.” (Rowe, p 106) In contrast, Anselm explains a merely possible being, a being that could have existed but does not, like a sibling that could have been born. The most important being Anselm mentions is the necessary being, which is a being that exists and could not have failed to exist. The necessary being is the most important because Anselm equates God to the necessary being and states that God is greater than any possible being. (Rowe, p