anselms ontological argument

Question 1

Briefly explain Anselm’s distinction between existence in the understanding and existence in reality

Answer 1

• God is such that nothing greater than it can be conceived
  This description of God is something the fool understands
  Since the fool understands this description, “the thing which nothing greater can be conceived” (i.e. God) exists in his understanding, even if the fool does not think that God exists

Question 2

what is anselms argument that god exists in the understanding

Answer 2

-Since the fool understands this description, “the thing which nothing greater can be conceived” (i.e. God) exists in his understanding, even if the fool does not think that God exists  
The argument (its version in Chapter II)

Existing in reality is greater than existing in the understanding alone.
Therefore, if that than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone, the very being than which nothing greater can be conceived is one than which a greater can be conceived (namely, a thing existing in reality)

Question 3

why does anselm think that existence in reality is greater than mere existence in the understanding

Answer 3

-because if it exists only in the understanding it doesnt really exist, and therefore something in existance is greater

Anselm’s sequence of greatness of beings:
(a)Beings that cannot be conceived to exist
(b)Beings that can be conceived to exist, but can also be conceived not to exist
(c)Beings that can be conceived to exist, and cannot be conceived not to exist
Second Ontological Argument (its version in Chapter III)

The third kind of being is the greatest.
God is the greatest being that can be conceived.

Question 4

How is Anselm’s response to the “fool” who understands the claim that God exists, but does not believe it?

Answer 4

-*if that than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone, the very being than which nothing greater can be conceived is one than which a greater can be conceived (namely, a thing existing in reality)
But obviously this is impossible.
Therefore, something than which a greater cannot be conceived (i.e. God) does exist – both in the understanding and in reality.

Question 5

What are the three kinds of beings that Anselm identifies in the second version of his Ontological Argument, and how does he rank them? Where does God fall, in this ranking, and why

Answer 5

-Anselm’s sequence of greatness of beings:
(a)Beings that cannot be conceived to exist
(b)Beings that can be conceived to exist, but can also be conceived not to exist
(c)Beings that can be conceived to exist, and cannot be conceived not to exist
Second Ontological Argument (its version in Chapter III)

The third kind of being is the greatest.
God is the greatest being that can be conceived.