Perfect Island Objection by Anselm of Canterbury - 1504 Words

Due to the preconceptions I have concerning Anselm’s Ontological Argument, as learnt through course research and lectures. I will like Descartes in his ‘First Meditation’, put these preconceptions to one side and present an essay that explores both sides of the argument in an attempt to reach an independent conclusion. However, I hope to reach the same conclusion as I had before – that is, that the Ontological Argument can be refuted on the basis that there exists a fundamental dissimilarity between the concept of existence in our minds, and that of existence in reality. This essay will present two objections to Anselm’s Ontological argument, namely, the ‘Perfect Island Objection’ and the ‘Existence is not a Predicate’ objection, whilst†¦show more content†¦But this is not to say that they exist as things other than whatever it is that physically constitutes that person’s thoughts, so perhaps we can grant Ans elm’s argument soundness so far. Anselm now notices that there is a contradiction between his definition of God, and the assumption that God does not exist. If his definition of God demands absolute, unlimited greatness, then a God who does not exist in realty could be said to be inferior to a God that does indeed exist in reality. In our imagining of a God that exists both in our understanding and in reality, we are imagining a being of which its greatness supersedes our first conception of a non-existing God. Thus, according to Anselm’s argument, our previous assumption that God does not exist in reality must in fact be false. Therefore Anselm concludes that God must exist in reality, because if this was not the case, we would be imagining a being greater than the greatest possible being we could imagine – a contradiction no less. So where do the weaknesses in the Ontological argument lie? The first main objection I will raise is what most Philosophers refer to as the ‘perfect island objection’, a version first formally proposed by the 11th-century French monk, Gaunilo, in which he named ‘the Lost Island’ refutation. This objection attempts to use the same form as Anselm’s reductio argument, only with the aim of proving the existence of a perfect island, rather thanShow MoreRelatedOntological Argument Is Not Reliant On An Posteriori933 Words   |  4 Pages Ontological Argument Saint Anselm created the â€Å"Ontological Argument†. Saint Anselm was the archbishop of Canterbury. The premise of Saint Anselm’s Ontological Argument is that, no greater being can be conceived than God. The Ontological Argument is an a priori or deductive argument. An a priori argument does not have to be supported by real or factual evidence just by reason without observation. Thus, the Ontological Argument is not reliant on an a posteriori premise. An a posteriori argumentRead MoreEssay on The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God1545 Words   |  7 Pagesintroduced by Anselm of Canterbury in his book Proslogion. Anselms classical argument was based on two principals and the two most involved in this is St Anselm of Canterbury as previously mentioned and Rene Descartes. The ontological argument argues that if you understand what it means to talk about God, you will see His existence is necessarily true. Anselm defined God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived, hence God must exist. Anselm also believedRead MoreAnshelm ¬Ã‚ ¥s Proof of God ¬Ã‚ ¥s Existence1466 Words   |  6 Pagesissue to this day! In the following I will commit myself to the above-mentioned question by firstly reconstructing Anselm ´s proof of God ´s existence and secondly considering his position in the light of the critique put forward by Gaunilo, Aquinas and Kant. St. Anselm (1033-1109) was an Italian philosopher and monk who later left his country to become Archbishop of Canterbury. As Anselm firmly believed in God, he wanted to prove God ´s existence through use of logic and reason and thus set out to demonstrateRead MoreAnalysis of Anselms Ontological Argument and the Argument from Evil1448 Words   |  6 Pages The Ontological argument is an a priori deductive argument. That is, an argument relating to being, that is independent of prior knowledge of the subject and with a conclusion you must accept IF one accepts the preceding premises. St. Anselm of Canterbury presents the Ontological Argument: 1. We conceive of God as a being than which no greater can be conceived. 2. This being than which no greater can be conceived either exists in the mind alone or both in the mindRead MoreThe Major Features of the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God1021 Words   |  5 PagesThe Major Features of the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God The ontological argument for the existence of God was originally set out in eleventh century by St. Anselm in his Proslogian. Anselm was a Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury, and one of the great medieval theologians. It has received a lot of both support and criticism from leaning philosophers. The argument is appeals to those who already believe in the existence of God than to an atheist. The Read MoreAnselm, The Archbishop Of Canterbury1767 Words   |  8 PagesAnselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was the first person to present an ontological argument for the existence of God. He actually proposes two different ontological arguments at different points in the Prosologium. His first Ontological Argument for God’s Existence starts by defining God based on Christian belief as â€Å"a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.† It is on the foundation of this definition that he builds his argument. Anselm’s first point is that anyone who hears about God