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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page research paper/essay that discusses the first and second ontological arguments of Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), who was the first medieval theologian to propose an ontological argument on the existence of God. An ontological argument is a method that relies on logic alone, rather than scripture, as it endeavors to establish a priori proof that God exists. Then, the writer discusses the response written by Anselm’s contemporary Gaunilo of Marmoutier. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khansont.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
relies on logic alone, rather than scripture, as it endeavors to establish a priori proof that God exists. The difference between Anselms first and second arguments Anselms first ontological
argument, which appears in chapter II of his Proslogion, begins by defining God as the "greatest possible being that can be imagined" (Himma). The second premise indicates God as a
concept that exists in the mind and the third premise indicates how things can exist in both the mind and in reality with, all things being equal, things in reality
being "greater" than those existing only in the mind (Himma). In other words, things that actually exist are necessarily "greater," i.e., superior, better, etc., than those things that exist only
in the imagination. Anselm concludes, as it is a given that humanity can conceive of God, than God must exist in reality because things in reality are greater than things
in the imagination. If it God exists only in the imagination, it would then be possible to imagine something greater than God and this is a contraction. Therefore, God exists
both in the mind and in reality (Anselm). As this summation indicates, Anselm builds his ontological argument based solely on speculation concerning the way in which God is understood
by humanity, without turning to any other body of factual information or knowledge. In other words, it is possible for people to conceive of a being that are all-powerful, who
knows everything, and who embodies all virtue and perfection. This premise is taken as a given, since Anselm comments that even a fool will admit its accuracy (Anselm). In
chapter 3 of Proslogion, Anselm restates his ontological argument, but with a variation. In this second argument, Anselm introduces a new element, which is whether God is necessary or contingent.
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