Changes

[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]] was the originator of the ontological argument]]

[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]] was the originator of the ontological argument]]

The ontological argument uses the definition of [[God]] to prove His existence. It was originally proposed by [[Anselm]] and remained influential for centuries, and was later used by [[Descartes]]. Anselm's proof is as follows:

The ontological argument uses the definition of [[God]] to prove His existence. It was originally proposed by [[Anselm of Canterbury]] and remained influential for centuries, and was later used by [[Descartes]]. Anselm's proof is as follows:

:God is that for which no greater being is conceivable.

:God is that for which no greater being is conceivable.

[[Atheists]] tend to agree with the first premise defining God, and from that follows in a strong, apparently deductive fashion. Anselm's proof bypasses [[Hume's Fork]].

[[Atheists]] tend to agree with the first premise defining God, and from that follows in a strong, apparently deductive fashion. Anselm's proof bypasses [[Hume's Fork]].

But [[Guanilo]], a contemporary of Anselm, played [[devil's advocate]] by using [[reductio ad absurdum]] and envisaged a 'lost, yet most perfect island'. Guanilo argued that just because we can imagine this island does not mean it actually exists.

But Gaunilo, a contemporary of Anselm, played [[devil's advocate]] by using [[reductio ad absurdum]] and envisaged a 'lost, yet most perfect island'. Gaunilo argued that just because we can imagine this island does not mean it actually exists. Anselm responded by arguing that such an island is not instrinsically necessary to existence because the concept of no greater conceivable being existing would only apply to God, not to something tangible such as an island.

[[Kant]] weighed in against Descartes' version, challenging the premise that existence is a predicate of perfection. Kant said he could imagine a hundred thalers (coins) in such great detail that whether or not they actually existed was arbitrary, as there was no difference other than this between the imagined and the existent thalers.  

[[Kant]] weighed in against Descartes' version, challenging the premise that existence is a predicate of perfection. Kant said he could imagine a hundred thalers (coins) in such great detail that whether or not they actually existed was arbitrary, as there was no difference other than this between the imagined and the existent thalers.