GOD'S EXISTENCE

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ST. ANSELM’S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

St. Anselm’s argument for the existence of God is a practical expression of his faith and belief in God. Anselm alleges that God is that which nothing greater than can ever be conceived. The notion of God’s existence for Anselm is so clear and distinct that it cannot be doubted.
He also argues that if that which nothing greater than can be conceived has no existence it means that there is something which is greater than it and as such it has less existence. But since there cannot be anything which is greater than that which nothing greater than can be conceived, it therefore means that God exists.
God’s existence must be both in the mind and in reality. If God’s existence is only limited to the mind is therefore means that He is not that which nothing greater than can be conceived. But since God exists both in the mind and in reality, it therefore means that his existence cannot be doubted.
Anselm contends that one cannot think of something which does not exists. As such, to think means to of something which exists. So for one to think of God means that God exists since one cannot just think of something which does not exist. In fact, the idea of God or to think of God means that God exists.
Moreso, Anselm opines that men seek to enjoy what they consider good. Since we can compare things with each other as being more or less good, these things must share in one and the same goodness. This goodness must be good-in-itself and as such the Supreme good. One could use the same argument as applied to greatness. There must therefore be something which is the best and greatest of all. That is God.
Anselm equally states that what ever exists, must come from something. That is to say that everything which exists has a cause because something cannot just cause itself. As a matter of fact, it will be absurd for something to cause itself. There must therefore be one thing, that alone is from itself and that causes all other things to be and that for, Anselm is God.

By Chukwu Justus CSSp

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