Anselm (1033-1109)
"Ontological Proof" of God's Existence
III. That the non-existence of God is inconceivable
"This proposition is indeed so true that its negation is
inconceivable. For it is quite conceivable that there is something
whose non-existence is inconceivable, and this must be greater than
that whose non-existence is conceivable. Wherefore, if that thing than
which no greater thing is conceivable can be conceived as non-existent;
then that very thing than which is greater is inconceivable is not that
than which is inconceivable; which is a contradiction.
So true is it that there exists something than which a greater is
inconceivable, that its non-existence is inconceivable: and this thing
art Thou, O Lord our God!
So truly therefore dost Thou exist, O Lord my God, that Thy
non-existence is inconceivable; and with good reason; for if a man's
mind could conceive ought better than Thou, the creature would rise
above the Creator and judge Him; which is utterly absurd. And in truth
whatever else there be beside Thee, may be conceived as non-existent.
Thou alone, therefore, must truly of all, and therefore most of all,
hast existence: because whatever else there is, is not so truly
existent, and therefore has less the prerogative of existence."
and from Responsio Anselmi...
" But, you say, this is the same as if one were to conceive the
idea of an island, surpassing all lands in fertility, named (from the
difficulty or rather impossibility of finding what is non-existent)
'the lost island', and to say, it must indubitably exist in reality,
because a man easily conceives the idea of it when described in words.
I answer with confidence; if a man will find me anything existing
either in fact or in thought only, so excellent that nothing more
excellent is conceivable, and if he be able to apply to it my train of
argument, then I will discover and present to him his 'lost island', to
be lost no more.
Source:Documents of the Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 1967
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"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17"
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Paul Durham pdd@gcc.cc.md.us
Oakland, Maryland