1. Chapter 2. of Ontological Argument
First we must understand that Anselm believed that faith and reason are two sources of human knowledge. Faith must be that starting point in the search for truth. "For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order that I may understand." .
The concept of fittingness as a philosophical criterion basically states that if something makes so much sense and seems to be perfect, and cannot proved otherwise, then it is true. When we keep in mind the quote given to us, "If a thing must be and if can be, then it is." Then we must also keep in mind the question presented to Anselm which is: For what reason or necessity did God become man and by his death restore life to the world, when he could have done this through any other person, or by sheer act of will? .
The reply to this question is, it was necessary for God to redeem man for his sins in the way he did. When we say necessary we mean it needed to be. So, if in fact man needed to be saved, then for Anselm it must have been done this way, according to the picture, for it is the best and most fitting way for God to have saved man. .
For Anselm the question for the nature of mans happiness, or eternal happiness with God, is illustrated in the picture or the scripture that is given to us. The picture is not only fitting for Anselm, but it is appropriate and above all it is perfect. If something is necessary, fitting, appropriate and perfect, then why not believed it.
This concept proves that either by faith or not, the story has no imperfections and by reason we can conclude that God acted in the way he did, by become a Man-God and taking on the lowest form of human nature, born of a woman and died, because it was the best and most fitting way to save man from sin and reconcile man for debt the man could not repay. Furthermore, it would be unfitting for God to show or reveal to man a happiness that could not be achieved by man due to the inability for man to repay his debt to God because of a lack of intellect.
Many debates are centered around the topic of the existence of God. People have given what they believe are rational proofs for definite existence, as well as non- existence. When all is said and done, there is no definite proof either way, and we are left to look at the arguments and make a leap of...
St. Anselm was a philosopher and leader of the church in 11th Century in England. ... This is important because Anselm indicates his faith is in search of understanding. ... "Something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought" is the argument of Anselm. ... Anselm argues for God's existence in all of Chapter two. ...
St. Anselm‟s Ontological Argument is certainly one of the most famous arguments in the history of philosophy. Anselm argues for the existence of God based on deductive reasoning and inferences of existence. ... Anselm‟s Argument Anselm presents his argument based upon reductio ad absurdum by using reason and logic in order to draw a conclusion that it would be absurd to reject God's existence. ... What Anselm argues is that God is "nothing greater can be conceived" which he intends to mean "objectively more worthy or better than" (Anselm). ...
"The Ontological Argument" In Saint Anselm and Gaunilo's "The Ontological Argument", Anselm believes that God is the greatest of all conceivable things and nothing else can be thought to exist greater than God. St. Anselm states that he wants to find a proof of God, not because he does not believ...
St. Anselm's version of the ontological argument, is perhaps the most famous and arises in, "The Proslogion." Anselm deduces the existence of God, from the concept of God, and therefore his argument is a priori. "Proslogion Two," states, "God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived," even the fool, whom Anselm is trying to refute, must have an understanding of the idea God according to Anselm. ... On the other hand, John Hick questions Anselm's definition of necessary existence, and argues Anselm was not using modern reason to support his faith. ...
The question of the existence of God has troubled mankind for thousands of years. Although the existence of God was once never denied, as His presence, His existence was evident in miracles and the people's faith. But time and the advancement of modern science have called God and His very nature int...
The most well known form of the Ontological Argument was thought of by St Anselm of Canterbury. ... Anselm states that the answer must be yes. ... Anselm said that existence is a necessary part of the idea of God. ... Gaunilo was a contemporary of Anselm, and he accused Anselm of being absurd. ... Bertrand Russell claimed that Anselm's use of the word, "Exist." ...
