Question Database: God and Religion
Ontological arguments
The following questions all refer to the following passage from Anselm.
(1) Even the Fool, then, is forced to agree that something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought exists in the mind, since he understands this when he hears it, and whatever is understood is in the mind. (2) And surely that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought cannot exist in the mind alone. (3) For if it exists solely in the mind even, it can be thought to exist in reality also, which is greater. (4) If then that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind alone, this same that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought is that-than-which-a-greater-can-be-thought. (5) But this is obviously impossible. (6) Therefore there is absolutely no doubt that something-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists both in the mind and in reality.
What is the main conclusion of this argument?
A. Something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought exists in the mind.
B. Something-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
C. If something exists in the understanding, but not in reality, then something greater than that thing can be conceived.
D. If something exists solely in the mind, it can be thought to exist in reality.
Answer: B
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
We can represent the main outline of Anselm's argument as follows:
1. ....
2. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind, then something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
Therefore:
C. Something-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
What premise fills the gap at 1?
A. A being that exists in reality is greater than a being which exists in the mind alone.
B. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind.
C. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists both in the mind and in reality.
D. If something exists in the understanding, but not in reality, then something greater than that thing can be conceived.
Answer: B
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
So the main argument has the form modus ponens:
1.Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind.
2.If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind, then something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
Therefore:
C. Something-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
Anselm offers to further arguments in support of premises 1 and 2.
Consider first the argument for 1: Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind.
Which of the following is a premise in the argument for 1?
A. Even the Fool is forced to agree that something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought exists in the mind.
B. Even the Fool can understand the concept of something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought.
C. If something exists in the understanding, but not in reality, then something greater than that thing can be conceived.
D. No one can conceive of something greater than something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought.
Answer: B
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
P1. Even the Fool can understand the concept of something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought.
P2.....
Therefore:
1. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind.
What fills the gap at P2?
A. Anything that can be understood exists in the mind.
B. Anything that exists in the mind can be understood.
C. Anything even a fool can understand must exist.
D. The concept of something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought can be understood by any fool.
Answer: A
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
Now consider the argument for premise 2 in the main argument:
2. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind, then something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
The argument begins as follows:
P3. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists solely in the mind, it can be thought to exist in reality also.
P4. Implicit assumption
Therefore:
5. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists solely in the mind, then something greater than it can be conceived.
What is the implicit assumption at P4?
A. If something can be thought to exist in reality, it must actually exist in reality.
B. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot be thought exists not only in the understanding, but also in reality.
C. No conceivable thing is greater than something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought.
D. Something that exists in reality is greater than something that exists solely in the mind.
Answer: D
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
The argument for 2. then continues as follows:
5. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists solely in the mind, then something greater than it can be conceived.
6....
Therefore:
7. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought does not exist solely in the mind – if it exists in the mind, it must exist in reality also.
Therefore:
2. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind, then something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
What best fills the gap at step 6 in the argument?
A. Something that exists in reality must be greater than something which only exists solely in the mind.
B. A being greater than something than-which-a-greater-cannot be thought, cannot be conceived.
C. A being greater than something than-which-a-greater-cannot be thought, can be conceived.
D. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot be thought exists in the mind, it exists in reality also.
Answer: B
Topic:
Ontological argument, Anselm
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy
Notes:
Putting the argument together, we have:
P1. Even the Fool can understand the concept of something-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought.
P2. Anything that can be understood exists in the mind.
Therefore:
1. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind.
---
P3. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists solely in the mind, it can be thought to exist in reality also.
P4. Something that exists in reality is greater than something that exists solely in the mind.
Therefore:
5. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists solely in the mind, then something greater than it can be conceived.
6. A being greater than something than-which-a-greater-cannot be thought, cannot be conceived.
Therefore:
7. Something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought does not exist solely in the mind – if it exists in the mind, it must exist in reality also.
Therefore:
2. If something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in the mind, then that something than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
Therefore (1 and 2):
C. That than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in reality.
Discussion questions
Is the argument for premise 1 valid?
A. Yes.
B. No.
Which of the premises P1 and P2 (if any) do you think are false?
A. P1 only
B. P2 only
C. Both P1 and P2 only
D. Neither - both premises are true
Is the argument for premise 2 valid?
A. Yes.
B. No.
Which of the premises P3 and P4 (if any)do you think are false?
A. P2 only
B. P3 only
C. Both P3 and P4 only
D. Neither - both premises are true