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Evaluate Anselm's Ontological Argument For The Existence Of God

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Anselm of Canterbury, a medieval philosopher, believed that there was a natural tie between faith and reason. He thought using our own rational powers could prove our faith. His goal was in finding a rational and logical proof for the existence of God. He sought to provide demonstration of the existence of God through a philosophical argument referred to as the ontological argument for the existence of God. Anselm's approach was based on a priori, which is the use of reason alone to get to a conclusion. Anselm aimed to establish God's existence through analysis and logical deduction rather than empirical evidence.
Anselm's ontological argument was explained in the following:
1. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, infinite, eternal, and transcendental.
2. God is understood to be a being than which none greater can be conceived.
3. God exists in …show more content…

#5 is a contradiction (Nothing greater than the greatest).
9. Therefore #3 is false, that is, for God to be the greatest conceivable being, He must exist in reality.
In other words, Anselm argued that if one can conceive a being that possesses all perfections, it is greater for that being to exist in reality rather than just in the mind. Therefore, with God being defined as the greatest conceivable being, He must exist in reality to solidify the definition.
Anselm's argument relied on the concept of God being a necessary being, which is a being whose nonexistence is logically impossible. According to Anselm, if God’s nonexistence is a possibility, then He would not be the greatest conceivable being. Therefore, God's existence is necessary for Him to be the greatest conceivable being. Anselm's goal with the ontological argument was to find proof for the existence of God that is grounded on the base of reason and does not rely on any sensory or observable experience or external evidence. He aimed to show that God's existence could be demonstrated through logical analysis and the understanding of the concept of

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