A REVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ANSELM'S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Authors

  • Eugene Victoriano De Guzman

Keywords:

maximal properties; ontological argument; proof for the existence of God

Abstract

The Ontological argument for the existence of God is an age-old argument. But it still has power and is debated in contemporary times. This article will review the debate concerning maximality in relation to the Monk Guanilo's parody of Anselm's argument with his example of the "perfect island." Alvin Plantinga attempted to defend Anselm and the validity of the Ontological argument by showing that maximality does not apply to existing entities but to God alone. Brian Garrett defends the objection of Guanilo by defending the idea of the maximal in relation to an island. Finally, Edgar Danielyan, defended Plantinga against Garrett. The author shall stand on behalf of Anselm’s defenders to reiterate the coherence and validity of the argument. The “something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be thought," or God, cannot be replaced or substituted by any worldly existing entities, for example, the perfect Island.

References

Charlesworth Max. J. St. "Anselm’s Argument." In: Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures vol 30. Switzerland, Springer, 2019, p. 105-114.

Danielyan, Edgar. "On behalf of St. Anselm." Analysis 75 p. 405-407, 2015.

Garrett, Brian. "On behalf of Gaunilo." Analysis 73 p. 48-482, 2013.

______. “Some comments on a modal ontological argument” Prajñā Vihāra 5:2 p. 1-5, 2004.

Johnson, Oliver. "God and St. Anselm." The Journal of Religion 45: 362-334, 1965.

Lawhead, William. The Voyage of Discovery: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. Fourth Edition. United States of America: Stamford, Cengage Learning, 2015, p. 165-166.

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Published

2023-07-26

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 2 (2023): July to December 2023

Section

Articles

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