“Examine the different versions of the Ontological Argument for the existence of God as
presented by Anselm and Malcom”.
Paragraph 1:
Anselm- Archbishop of Canterbury
Benedictine Monk
Developed Ontological Argument-prove the existence of God and deem it logical
Deductive- Premises logically entail the conclusions
Based on prior knowledge- no form of previous experience or empirical Evidence.
Paragraph 2
Outlined his argument- in book ‘Proslogian 2’ and ‘Proslogian 3’
Promotes “faith seeking understanding”- use logic to demonstrate the rationality of faith
2 ways an argument can exist
Either exist in reality or in the mind
Defined God as “that which no greater can be conceived”
For God to be omnipotent and transcendent- must exist in both reality and in the mind
Otherwise- opens the possibility of something Greater
Using definition of God to substantiate his existence
Atheist-don't need to have understanding of God to know that if he exists, he has to possess
these characteristics
paragraph 3
Anselm- proslogian 3
counter argue Gaunilo-applied logic to a ‘mythical lost island’
explain this example
Anselm-only applies to necessary being
island is full of contingent objects-logic is unable to be applied
argued all humans/objects apart from God are contingent
Due to the fact God is that which no greater can be conceived-must by definition have
necessary existence
paragraph 4
Norman Malcolm-revived the ontological argument 20th century
counter argue Rene Descartes- idea that existed is an essence to God's character
argued existence is not a predicate
Predicate- something that adds to the essence of the object, cannot be used as a defining
characteristic
Malcolm-like and argument to proslogian 3
imposed importance of gods necessity
in order to have a God he must have necessary existence
cannot spontaneously come into existence if he didn’t already exist and cannot cease to
exist
Therefore, Gods existence is either impossible or necessary
presented by Anselm and Malcom”.
Paragraph 1:
Anselm- Archbishop of Canterbury
Benedictine Monk
Developed Ontological Argument-prove the existence of God and deem it logical
Deductive- Premises logically entail the conclusions
Based on prior knowledge- no form of previous experience or empirical Evidence.
Paragraph 2
Outlined his argument- in book ‘Proslogian 2’ and ‘Proslogian 3’
Promotes “faith seeking understanding”- use logic to demonstrate the rationality of faith
2 ways an argument can exist
Either exist in reality or in the mind
Defined God as “that which no greater can be conceived”
For God to be omnipotent and transcendent- must exist in both reality and in the mind
Otherwise- opens the possibility of something Greater
Using definition of God to substantiate his existence
Atheist-don't need to have understanding of God to know that if he exists, he has to possess
these characteristics
paragraph 3
Anselm- proslogian 3
counter argue Gaunilo-applied logic to a ‘mythical lost island’
explain this example
Anselm-only applies to necessary being
island is full of contingent objects-logic is unable to be applied
argued all humans/objects apart from God are contingent
Due to the fact God is that which no greater can be conceived-must by definition have
necessary existence
paragraph 4
Norman Malcolm-revived the ontological argument 20th century
counter argue Rene Descartes- idea that existed is an essence to God's character
argued existence is not a predicate
Predicate- something that adds to the essence of the object, cannot be used as a defining
characteristic
Malcolm-like and argument to proslogian 3
imposed importance of gods necessity
in order to have a God he must have necessary existence
cannot spontaneously come into existence if he didn’t already exist and cannot cease to
exist
Therefore, Gods existence is either impossible or necessary
