Anselm

I. The Main Argument


1. We (even Fools) understand the meaning of the word God to be

“a being than which nothing greater can be conceived”. (Premise)

2. What we understand exists at least in our understanding (mind, intellect). (Premise)

Ex: The painter’s picture, before it is painted.

3. Hence, a being than which no greater can be conceived exists at least in our

understanding. (from 1 and 2)

4. To exist in reality is greater than to exist only in the understanding. (Premise)

5. Hence, a being having all of God’s properties plus (if God lacks it) real

existence is greater than a being that exists only in the understanding. (from 4)

6. If the being than which no greater can be conceived existed only in the

understanding, we could conceive of a greater being (one that also had real

existence outside the understanding). (from 5)

7. But it is false that a being greater than God can be conceived. (by definition)

8. Hence, this being has real existence. (from 6 and 7)