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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares the arguments of Anselm and Aquinas on the existence of God and then briefly discusses Descartes' view. Theologians and philosophers throughout history have formulated arguments that are designed to prove, logically, that God exists. This examination of three of these arguments looks first at the proofs of God's existence offered by Anselm and Aquinas. These two theologians take opposite approaches, with Anselm offering an a priori, ontological proof, while Aquinas formulates a cosmological, a posteriori argument. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khanaqde.rtf
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the proofs of Gods existence offered by Anselm and Aquinas. These two theologians take opposite approaches, with Anselm offering an a priori, ontological proof, while Aquinas formulates a cosmological, a
posteriori argument. Ontological arguments, such as Anselms, begin with premises that are not dependent on experience (Anselms). In Chapter II of Anselms Proslogium, Anselm writes that "we believe that
thou art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived" (Anselms). In other words, Anselm defines "God" as an "absolutely unsurpassable being, a being that cannot conceivably be improved
upon" (Anselms). Anselms argument addresses Psalms 14:1, which refers to a fool who understands that assertion that god exists, but does not believe in God. Anselm differentiates between conceiving of
something in ones understanding and actually believing that this something exists. For example, one can conceive of UFOs, but still not believe that they exist. Given this concept, Anselm
goes on to propose that if God exists in understanding alone, as the fool believes, it is also possible that individuals can conceive of circumstances in which belief in God
could be true (Anselms). Since it acknowledged that "it is greater for a thing to exist in reality than for it to exist in understanding alone," this leads to the
conclusion that "a being than which none greater can be conceived can be conceived to be greater than it is," which is "absurd" (Anselms). This indicates that the first assumption
(which was that God existed only in understanding) must be false and that God exists in reality as well (Anselms). Anselms argument asserts to be a priori, that is,
that its premises are independent of experience. This point is debatable, however, in contrast, the Cosmological Argument of Aquinas makes no such claim and is, therefore, an a posteriori argument,
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