The Proslogion By Saint Anselm - 1937 Words

In the book, The Proslogion, written by Saint Anselm, we find the Ontological Argument. This argument made by Saint Anselm gives us proofs that he believes helps prove the existence of God. Anselm gives many reasons as to why the simple understanding of God can help prove that God himself exists, as well as mentioning how the idea of God cannot be thought not to exist. Though this argument has been looked at by people such as Guanilo, a monk, whose response to Anselm s proofs was trying to say that there were flaws, there are more reasons as to why Anselm s proofs work well with his argument. From the understanding of God existing, and the idea behind greatness Anselm s argument is one that is strong and can work as a proof when trying†¦show more content†¦If a person can realize that God is the greatest thing, and nothing greater can be thought, than they simply believe that he would exist, even if they do not realize they believe in him. Continuing off this idea of God being the greatest idea that can be thought, and how the thought of God is in everybody s mind, Anselm mentions â€Å" If that- than-which- a-greater-cannot -be-thought exists in the mind alone, this is the same than that- which- a- greater- can- be- thought is than that-which-a-greater-can-be-thought. Therefore there is absolutely no doubt that- than-which- a-greater-cannot -be-thought exists in both the mind and reality† (Anselm 88). This proof that is given to us by Anselm is helping to show that God is something that is an idea in everybody s mind, but existing only in the mind is not enough. As said before Anselm states that no one can think of anything greater than God, but if God was something that was only an idea in people s’ heads then there would be ways for people to think of things greater than God. Though if God existed outside of someone s mind, in reality, then it would be impossible for anyone to think of anything bigger than God and because God is something in which nothing greater can be thought, he must exist in both the mind and reality. Now, based off of these proofs made by Anselm, he believes that since God is that which nothingShow MoreRelated Exposing the Weakness of Saint Anselm of Canterbury’s Ontological Argument1198 Words   |  5 PagesExposing the Weakness of Saint Anselm of Canterbury’s Ontological Argument In a world of scientific inquiry, atheism, and the assassination of God, we are often neglectful of our Glorious God’s existence. With new theories of neuropsychology, quantum physics, gene therapy, evolution, and psychobiology, we are constantly forced to edge God out of our lives, to be replaced with cold, empty scientific thought. What, with meme theory, genetic predisposition, evolutionary spontaneous generationRead MoreBeyond a Reasonable Doubt Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagesconscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service. The fervency of the faith that Christians hold in the existence of God necessarily intensifies the desire to prove His existence extrinsically. As Saint Anselm said in his Proslogion, â€Å"For I seek not to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand.† Many theologians and philosophers have attempted to bridge this gap between understanding and belief, perhaps attempting to make the transitionRead MoreBombardier Aerospace: An Overview1590 Words   |  6 Pagesto use a rational approach or a more Biblically-grounded approach. This paper examines three theories that are germane to the rational approach the Five Proofs issued by Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica, the central premise of St. Anselms Proslogion, and Augustines premise from his canonical text City of God. After discussing these three arguments, two Christological arguments are discussed, namely Richard Bauckhams thesis from God Crucified: Monotheism and Christology in the New TestamentR ead MoreA Christian Nation Through The Eyes Of A Son Of Indian Immigrants991 Words   |  4 Pagesphilosophical works were about God. Saint Anselm wrote Proslogion, a work in which he explained through logic that God must exist, by logically defeating the contradictions of his powers. Saint Augustine wrote The City of God, which convinced people that even though the Roman state was great, they must strive for salvation so they may live in the perfect City of Heaven. The City of Earth could never live up to the City of God since imperfect men were in charge. Saint Thomas Aquinas helped to spread theRead MoreMedieval Vs. Renaissance Philosophy1514 Words   |  7 Pagescan see these changes of Ideas by studying the works of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Thomas a Kempis, and Caesarius of Heisterbach from the Medieval Era and compare it to the works of Marsilio Ficino, Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Desiderius Erasmus of the Renaissance period we can see a very particular change in worldviews. Anselm of Canterbury was the archbishop of Canterbury. In his writing â€Å"Proslogion† he argues for the existence of God. He starts off the