Anselm's Ontological Argument

Question 1

Outline Anselm’s Ontological Argument in logical form.

Answer 1

P1- It is better for something to exist within reality than it is for it to exist only within the mind.
P2- If God is better with existence then it’s not possible for him to be perfect without existence.
P3- In order for God to be “greater than nothing else which can be conceived” he must exist within reality rather than just the mind.
C1- Therefore God must exist.

Question 2

Explain Gaunilo’s response to Anselm.

Answer 2

Gaunilo uses the analogy of a “perfect island” to explain how Anselm is wrong.

Just because I think the island is perfect and that it is better off in reality than just within the mind, this doesn’t cause it to exist.

I cannot empirically verify the island’s existence which demonstrates the problem with believing that perfection defines existence.