About: Traditional Arguments for the Existence of God

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Ontology is the branch of Philosophy that explores the concept of existence. There are several forms of existence, for example our existence in a physical sense -- we take up space, we can be seen and heard, but Prime numbers also exist in the real of mathematical concepts even though they are not available to be perceived by the senses.

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rdfs:label	Traditional Arguments for the Existence of God
rdfs:comment	Ontology is the branch of Philosophy that explores the concept of existence. There are several forms of existence, for example our existence in a physical sense -- we take up space, we can be seen and heard, but Prime numbers also exist in the real of mathematical concepts even though they are not available to be perceived by the senses.
dcterms:subject	Religion Religion Smart stuff for dudes and chicks who've been to college Smart stuff for dudes and chicks who've been to college Philosophy Philosophy dbkwik:resource/genCRHOP65Hxt9xh23CBCg== dbkwik:resource/rXNqkZ-jWFqUofG3sD7_eQ==
abstract	Ontology is the branch of Philosophy that explores the concept of existence. There are several forms of existence, for example our existence in a physical sense -- we take up space, we can be seen and heard, but Prime numbers also exist in the real of mathematical concepts even though they are not available to be perceived by the senses. Saint Anselm (1033-1109) was an Archbishop of Canterbury and Benedictine Monk and created the Ontological Argument from the perspective of 'faith seeking understanding' rather than an attempt to convert unbelievers. Anselm in his book Proslogion argues first by defining God as 'that than which nothing greater can be thought'. God is understood by some to be the highest sum of all perfections, where absolutely nothing could surpass God in any way. Anselm argued that if we have an idea of a God who is perfect in every way, where nothing could be greater, then this God must exist in reality- because a God who just exists in our heads, as something we imagined to be great but did not actually exist, would be inferior to a real God. So God must exist to fit our definition of 'that than which nothing greater can be thought. Gaunilo of Marmoutiers, another Benedectine Monk believed in God but thought the logic by Anselm was faulty. Gaunilo used the analogy of an island as a replacement for God. In his writings On Behalf of the Fool he explained we can all imagine the most perfect Lost Island; we all understand the implications of the phrase 'the most perfect Lost Island' and there this notion exists as a concept in our understanding. We might then, using Anselm's logic, go on to say that for such an island to exist in our minds means it is inferior to the same island existing in reality. If our island is the truly the the most perfect, it cannot have the inferiority from being a concept only -- it must therefore exist in reality. However there is no such island in reality. Gaunilo's point was we cannot bring something into existence just by defining it as a superlative (Most perfect, most excellent etc).

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