Does The Ontological Argument Successfully Show That God...

Student Name - Samukumba Seyuba Student Number - SYBSAM001 Course code - PHI1024F Course Lecturer – Dean Chapman Tutor – Kajal Carr Does the Ontological Argument successfully show that God exists? God – â€Å"a being of which nothing greater can be conceived.† (Blackburn, S, 1999. Think. New York United States of America, Oxford University Press Inc. 5:154) The ontological argument put forward by St Anselm, is based on this definition. The argument, Anselm’s premises, the concept of god being understood, god existing in the understanding and god necessarily existing in reality, plus conclusion that god in fact exists, can be easily digested and understood but are also very confusing. In this essay I will argue that the ontological argument does not successfully prove that god exists as the argument not only contradicts itself but fails to put forward any solid proof for god’s existence. The essay topic above raises two main areas of attention in need of address. These two areas being; the ontological argument and what it is, and secondly, whether or not this argument is successful in arriving at the conclusion of god’s existence. To do the latter, I must first state the argument and what it is. The Ontological Argument states, following the definition of God above, that the concept of God or, a god, is understood (even by the fool as stated by Anselm) (Blackburn, 1999:154). Therefore as the concept of God is understood God therefore exists in the understanding (taken as theShow MoreRelatedDoes Anselm s Ontological Argument Successfully Show That God Exists?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMischler Does Anselm’s Ontological Argument Successfully Show That God Exists? The argument of whether God does or doesn’t exist has been a popular philosophical topic and everyday topic around the world for many centuries. It is a very important concept that philosophers have been trying to grasp since the beginning of philosophy. 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