Anselm's Proslogium & Refutes

Question 1

What is anselm’s proslogium

Answer 1

a condensed argument with 4 premises on the existence of God

Question 2

what is the purpose of the proslogium

Answer 2

“faith, seeking, understanding”

to help those who already have faith understand

Question 3

what is premise 1

Answer 3

God = greatest being (formal cause)

-anyone can think of this

Question 4

what is the problem with premise 1

Answer 4

if Anselm’s definition of God is false, the argument = done

Question 5

what is premise 2

Answer 5

something can exist in reality and in mind

-eg. artist’s painting exists in the mind before it’s made

Question 6

what is premise 3

Answer 6

existing in reality > existing in mind

Question 7

what is premise 4

Answer 7

God can’t only exist in the mind

- if God is greatest, can’t only exist in mind because of premise 3

Question 8

what type of argument is the proslogium and why

Answer 8

a. priori; taking causes (premises) and applying the effect of them

Question 9

who refuted the proslogium and with what

Answer 9

Gaunilio (defense of the fool)

Question 10

according to gaunilo, why doesn’t the proslogium prove God exists

Answer 10

1) definition of God
- can’t be experienced
- cant be conceived
2) one is able to think of things that doesn’t exist

Question 11

what are the counters to gaunilo’s refutes

Answer 11

1) idea of comparison
- idea of God = better than anything experienced
2) the things that don’t exist are finite, but because God = infinite, He must exist