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Ontological Argument And Rowe's Analysis

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An argument that has existed for about as long as history itself is over the existence of God. Many different philosophers have given their take on the issue but the focus will be on St. Anselm’s, “The Ontological Argument” and William Rowe’s, “An Analysis of the Ontological Argument.” Anselm gives his piece with the intent to prove the existence of God in both the understanding and reality, while Rowe provides his analysis on the argument provided by Anselm while ultimately denying Anselm case. For something to exists in the understanding, it just has to be in the mind. A mythical creature or even a half man and half ice cream cone can exist in the understanding because it exists in the mind. To exist in reality, something must exist outside …show more content…

If God does not exist in reality, he must only exist in the understanding. The fifth premise is that God might have been greater than he is. This premise follows through premise two, three, and four. If God only exists only in the understanding, but might have existed in reality, and if so might have been greater than it is, than God might have been greater than he is. The sixth premise is that God is a being in which a greater is possible. This premise comes from premise five. If God might have been greater than he is, God must be a being in which a greater is possible. Following Anselm’s reductio ad absurdum argument brings us to the conclusion of the reductio ad absurdum portion in premise seven. The seventh premise is that the being than which none greater is possible, is a being than which a greater is possible. This premise brings us to a contradictory statement which sets up Anselm’s final two premises. The eighth premise is that premise four is false. Therefore, it is false that God only exists in the understanding. Anselm then concludes that God has to exist in reality and in the understanding (Rowe,

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