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Anselm's Monologion Sparknotes

1083 Words5 Pages

Drashti Patel

03/19/2023

PHIL 100

Final Paper

Anselm’s Monologion

Anselm of Canterbury's Monologion is a work of immense significance, not only for its impact on medieval philosophy but also for its relevance to contemporary debates in theology and philosophy. As Anselm himself states in the opening lines of the Monologion, "I wish to reflect on the truth, which my heart believes and loves, that I may understand it" (Chapter 1). The work is structured as a conversation between Anselm and his readers, in which he uses philosophical and theological arguments to present his view of God and explore the connection between faith and reason. One of the central arguments of the Monologion is Anselm's famous ontological argument for the …show more content…

Anselm goes on to argue that this "something" must necessarily exist in reality, as something that exists in reality is greater than something that exists only in the understanding. Through his reflections, Anselm offers a unique perspective on the nature of God and the relationship between faith and reason, and his arguments continue to resonate with modern-day philosophers and theologians. The problem of evil and the nature of God, in particular, have a bearing on the discussions currently taking place in philosophy and theology. The Monologion is a foundational text in the evolution of philosophical and theological discussions within the Christian tradition over many centuries, and its influence can still be felt today. In Anselm's Monologion, he presents a unique perspective on the nature of God and the relationship between faith and reason, with the ontological argument as a central feature. This paper will analyze Anselm's arguments and demonstrate their relevance to contemporary debates, highlighting the Monologion's …show more content…

It is covered in the first section of the book. He accomplishes this by stating that the book's purpose is "to demonstrate through rational argument that the existence of the one thing that is absolute and true God's existence is more reliable than any other fact." Anselm then continues by explaining that the concept of "that which is greater" is the cornerstone of the logical arguments that will get used to demonstrate that God does exist. Anselm argued that God must exist because God is beyond human comprehension. After that, Anselm strengthens his case by utilizing various devices from the art of rhetoric. According to his reasoning, given that we can conceptualize something as "greater than," an ultimate superlative must exist. Then, employing the logical fallacy known as reduction ad absurdum, he argues that if something is not the greatest, we must presume that there is something greater than it and, as a result, something even more remarkable. It leads to the conclusion that there is something even more significant than that. Anselm concludes that because comparisons of "greater than" cannot go on indefinitely, one entity must be superior to all other

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