Existence of God Essay example

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William Ruiz
PHIL 201
Professor Delaney
July 22, 2009
Existence of God

Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God is that God is the greatest possible being. Anselm’s ontological argument gave meaning to God’s existence. Ontological argument is defined as the existence of God attempts the method of a priori proof, which uses intuition and reason alone. “Anselm defines God by saying God is that “which nothing greater can be conceived.” One way to interpret this phrase is to define “God” as maximal perfection, i.e. the greatest possible being. Some may criticize this definition by saying that’s not what they mean when they use the term God. But that really doesn’t matter. If the argument proves that such a being exists, then it does so regardless of what one wishes to call the being of maximal perfection. Furthermore, it’s unclear why a rational person should be reluctant to call such a being God, or why God wouldn’t be the greatest possible being” (1). Anselm argument is to show proof to an individual that believes there’s no God. The person that has doubt in the existence of God understands two things: that there’s a claim for the existence of God and he does not believe that God exist. According to Anselm, “even the fool is convinced that something exists in the understanding at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived. For when he hears of this he understands it.... And assuredly that than which nothing greater can be conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone. For suppose it exists in the understanding alone: then it can be conceived to exist in reality, which is greater.... Hence, there is no doubt that there exists a being than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality... and this being thou art, O Lord, our God” (2). Anselm rebuttal the “fool” that denies there’s a God. Anselm claims that the “fool” understands the definition of god but denies that God exists. Anselm main point about the “fool” is basically this, if you have an understanding about the claims of God, then in all aspect God does exist in your mind. For example, for an object to exist in my understanding that means that the object does exist. Anselm states that, “Hence even the fool is convinced that something exists in the understanding, at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived. For when he hears of this, he understands it. And whatever is understood, exists in the understanding” (3). This statement spoken by Anselm indicates that there are differences to the existence of God. That means that god, a being which nothing greater can be conceived, does exists in understanding. Anselm describes two kinds of existence: existence in the mind and existence in reality. Some people who do not believe in God feel this way because in order to believe something they must see, smell, hear,
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