Existence of God by Faith and Understanding

Deepak Bali

PHIL 190 MWF 2:40 P

Professor Gallo

November 9, 2007

Existence of God by Faith and Understanding

Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God is, in one sense, quite simple. He says that “God is that-than-which-no-greater-can-be-thought-, and he must, there, exist, for otherwise he would not be that-than-which-no-greater-can-be-thought” (Anselm, Reason & Responsibility, 6). His is a two stage thesis which begins with a primary formula, or name, for God: the “that” beyond which nothing of any greater quality (power, intelligence, love, truth) can be conceived. Anselm has used this formula as a basis for the two basic forms of his argument. The first form is the intrinsic quality of God’s existence in relation to the divine nature; and second form is the absolute necessity of God’s existence in relation to this very same nature. I believe his argument is ostensibly, an argument based on reason. It is also a Tautological argument which is difficult to support without reference to a pre-existent faith (IEP).

Most of the arguments for God’s existence rely on at least one empirical premise. Likewise, cosmological arguments depend on certain empirical claims about the explanation for the occurrence of empirical events. In contrast, the ontological arguments are conceptual. The propositions constituting the concept of God, according to the ontological argument, imply that God exists. According to Dennis Jowers, the basic premises about God and the nature of thought which Anselm’s arguments hold in common are four: that that-than-which-no-greater-can-be-thought is God, that God can be though, that God is thought, and that God exists in the mind (Jowers). This argument is both conceptual and modal. The use of the phrase “conceive of” definitely makes this argument a conceptual one. But as said before, it is interesting to note that Anselm’s argument is a priory that is the premises are not empirical but conceptual....