Philosophy Friday: St. Anselm

                                               Anselm: 1032-1109
            St. Anselm of Canterbury was known as the father of Scholasticism. He was a monk of the Benedictine order. He is most famous for his statement of the ontological argument for the existence of God. The ontological argument is an argument based on abstractions, unlike future arguments like that of Aquinas,’ which are much more tangible in nature. Regardless, his argument proved so influential that it is still in use today. [1]
            Anselm never meant for the ontological argument to be persuasive to non-believers, rather, its purpose was to give further grounding for those who already had faith. Anselm said that God is by definition the greatest conceivable being. He argued that both believer and non-believer would attest to this fact. If this is true, then it follows that God does exist. For, an existing being would be greater than a non-existent being. [2]
            Anselm’s argument is easily misunderstood and is thus frequently mocked by critics then and now. The Benedictine monk Gaunilo apposed Anselm’ argument and presented a counter-argument. His argument regarding the Island of the Blest was in mockery of the ontological argument. The argument is as follows. There is a lost island of immeasurable wealth and beauty. Because this blest island exists in the mind, it must also exist in reality, for it is far better to exist in reality than to only exist in the mind. The difference, however, is in the definition. There is nothing in the definition of an island that one should suppose the Island of the Blest exists. [3]
           Anselm’s defense received mixed reviews. The most favorable is that Anselm rejected Gaunilo’s interpretation of the ontological argument, and for that reason, did not try to rebut his counterargument extensively. Rather than arguing against the Island of the Blest, Anselm reaffirms the ontological argument. The less favorable interpretation of Anselm’s response is that he did not attempt to rebut the counter-argument extensively because he knew that he could not do so with any success.[4] The ontological argument is simplified as follows:

1. That than which nothing greater can be thought can be thought.
2. If that than which nothing greater can be thought can be thought, it exists in reality. . .
3. [Therefore] That than which nothing greater can be thought exists in reality. [5]

          Anselm’s ontological argument was not unlike other great philosophical arguments in that it received much criticism. The problem lies in Anselm’s neglect to clearly respond to the counterargument presented. However, this flaw did not forever mar the standing of the argument, for it is still considered a convincing argument for God’s existence to many.

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             [1]. John Arthur Kemp, "Saint Anselm of Canterbury”, Encyclopædia Britannica Online (Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013)

 [2]. Solomon and Higgins, “Religious and Medieval Philosophy,” A Short History of Philosophy, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), 143.

 [3]. Pojman and Vaughn, “Anselm and Gaunilo,” Classics of Philosophy, 3rd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 444. 

[4]. Thomas Williams, "Saint Anselm", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Spring 2013 ed., ed. Edward N. Zalta  (Stanford: The Metaphysics Research Lab, Center for the Study of Language and Information, 2013)

 [5]. Ibid.