Anselm's other argument
by Smith, A. D., (Arthur David)
Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 CE), in his work Proslogion, originated the "ontological argument" for God's existence, famously arguing that "something than which nothing greater can be conceived," which he identifies with God, must actually exist, for otherwise something greater could indeed be conceived. Some commentators have claimed that although Anselm may not have been conscious of the fact, the Proslogion as well as his Reply to Gaunilo contains passages that constitute a second indepen…
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- Full title :Anselm's other argument / A.D. Smith.
Summary
Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 CE), in his work Proslogion, originated the "ontological argument" for God's existence, famously arguing that "something than which nothing greater can be conceived," which he identifies with God, must actually exist, for otherwise something greater could indeed be conceived. Some commentators have claimed that although Anselm may not have been conscious of the fact, the Proslogion as well as his Reply to Gaunilo contains passages that constitute a second independent proof: a "modal ontological argument" that concerns the supposed logical necessity of God's existence. Other commentators disagree, countering that the alleged second argument does not stand on its own but presupposes the conclusion of the first. Anselm's Other Argument stakes an original claim in this debate, and takes it further. In a book that combines historical research with rigorous philosophical analysis, Smith discusses this argument in detail, finally defending a modification of it that is implicit in Anselm. This "other argument" bears a striking resemblance to one that Duns Scotus would later employ. -- from the publisher.
Read More ↓Edition Statements
- Publication Date:2014.
Publication Statements
- Publisher(s):Harvard University Press
- Place of Publication:Cambridge
- Language:eng
- Publication Date:2014.
The Physical Object
- Description:xi, 235 pages ; : 24 cm
Edition Identifiers
- ISBN:9780674725041, 0674725042
- oclc:ocn861478404
- LC Classification:B765.A84
- Dewey Decimal:212/.1
Table of Contents
The modal ontological argument -- Anselm's understanding of conceivability -- Anselm's understanding of possibility -- The Proslogion III argument -- Arguments in the reply to Gaunilo -- Anselm's other argument -- An assessment of the argument.
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