Study Notes on The Ontological Argument by St. Anselm

The Ontological Argument by St. Anselm

About the Author

  • St. Anselm (1033-1109)
    • Member of the Benedictine Order.
    • Bishop of Canterbury.
    • Contributed to the extension of the Augustinian tradition, emphasizing the necessity of faith in seeking understanding of God.
    • Contrasted with theologians who fear skepticism and thus avoid reason; Anselm advocates that reason is essential for clarifying and validating faith.
  • Recognized as the father of scholastic philosophy due to his focus on linguistic and analytical thinking.
  • Scholasticism: Dominant approach to philosophical and theological issues during the medieval period.

About the Work

  • Anselm’s argument for God's existence predominantly relies on reason.
  • Purpose: To clarify Christian faith rather than merely to argue for God's existence based on rational deduction.
  • Core Argument:
    • Defines God as a "being than which no greater can be conceived."
    • Concludes that such a being must exist, as perfection entails existence.
  • Influential Philosophers:
    • Baruch Spinoza and René Descartes have utilized versions of the ontological argument, asserting that existence is a property inherent in the very concept of a perfect being.
  • In philosophical terms, it is argued that existence is a feature of the essence of God.

Key Ideas from the Proslogium

  1. Nature of Belief and Understanding:
    • St. Anselm asserts that comprehending the nature of religious belief is vital for believing in the nature and existence of God (a necessary condition).
  2. Restating Anselm's Ontological Argument:
    • The argument can be summarized as follows:
      • If God is defined as the greatest conceivable being, then God must exist; if not, a greater being could be conceived (the existence of God is necessary).
  3. Understanding Conception of God Not Existing:
    • Anselm notes there is only one way to conceive God as not existing, essentially reaffirming that this notion contradicts God's definition.
  4. Necessity of God’s Existence:
    • According to Anselm, only God is a being that cannot not exist. This is because notions of necessary beings juxtaposed with contingent beings reveal that all others could hypothetically cease existing.

Excerpts from the Reading (Proslogium)

  • Prayer of Acknowledgment: St. Anselm expresses gratitude towards God, acknowledging the creation of humanity in God's image to understand and love Him.
  • Key Insights:
    • Human understanding can be shadowed by vices, necessitating renewal by God for true comprehension.
    • Believes “understanding” is not the precursor to belief; rather, faith is required for true understanding.
    • The assertion “the fool has said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms xiv. 1) affirms definite reflections on belief in God.
  • Distinction Between Understanding vs. Existence:
    • A distinction is made between an object existing in the understanding and existing in reality.
    • Example: A painter understands the concept of a painting before it is made; once created, it is both understood and exists.
  • Impossibility of Conception of God’s Non-Existence:
    • Anselm argues if God (the greatest conceivable being) existed solely in understanding, it could be thought of as existing in reality, which is greater—a contradiction.
    • Therefore, it must be concluded that God exists in both understanding and reality.
  • Existential Assertions:
    • God cannot be conceived not to exist; anything that is conceived could exist in a concept but not in realness.
    • This leads to the conclusion that God must hold the highest existence, as the true creator cannot have a greater being conceived above Him without inferring absurdities.
    • Anselm emphasizes: “If God can be conceived not to exist, then He cannot be God.”

Conclusive Assertions

  • Anselm’s rebuttal to atheistic sentiments illustrates the rational necessity of God’s existence.
  • Significance of Anselm's Work:
    • Challenges notions asserting that belief in God is a matter of subjective interpretation, establishing it as a logically necessary conclusion.