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Summary Ontological Argument
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The ontological argument
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Ontological Arg - ReasonThe Ontological argument is based on reason and Apriori knowledge
without referring to observations from experience. That seeks to prove
the existence of God through the concept of ontological perfection.
The ontological argument was first formulated by St. Anselm of
Canterbury, found in his work Proslogion. Anselm's argument is based
on the idea that God is the greatest conceivable being, and
existence is a necessary attribute of this being. In other words, if we
can conceive of a being that is greater than any other being, then this
being must exist in reality, because existence is a necessary part of its
greatness.
Anselm's ontological argument is based on two key points: the concept
of God as the greatest conceivable being and the necessity of
existence as a predicate of greatness.
Anselm’s argument (1st form)
Anselm defines God as that - which - nothing - greater - can - be -
conceived. i.e. the greatest being imaginable.(call this
GITWNGCBC).
Concept of God as the Greatest Conceivable Being:
According to him, God is that being than which nothing greater can be
conceived. In other words, God possesses all perfections to the highest
degree imaginable. Anselm argues that even the concept of God implies
greatness because a being that lacks any perfection cannot be
considered the greatest conceivable being.
2nd point
Existence as a Necessary Attribute of Greatness:
Anselm's second point is that existence is a necessary attribute of
greatness. He argues that a being that exists, in reality, is greater than a
being that exists only in the mind or imagination. Anselm suggests that if
God, as the greatest conceivable being, exists only in the mind but not in
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