ENGAGEMENT WITH ANSELM AND HIS ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS

1(a). Using Anselm\’s Ontological Arguments, find in the first paragraph, the Philosophical Name of God for Anselm.
1(b).In the second paragraph, describe the analogy of the painter to explain his ontological argument.
1(c).In paragraph 3, based on the analogy of the painter, for Anselm, which one is better for God to be like a painting, to exist the painting only in the mind, or to exist in reality as well?

2. Using paragraph 4, by doing a substitution to the philosophical name of God with \”GOD\”, rewrite the whole paragraph using \”God\” instead of the philosophical name of God.

3. On Aquinas\’ Five Ways, enumerate and describe each argument on God\’s existence in Aquinas Cosmological Arguments–include in your description a cosmic experience found in each argument.

4. On Aquinas\’ Cosmological arguments, describe THE NAMES OF GOD for Aquinas in the five cosmological arguments?

5. For personal Reflection, which argument is easier to follow – Ontological Argument or Cosmological Argument? Why?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Engagement with Anselm and His Ontological Arguments

1.

In the first paragraph, the philosophical name of God is “Thou art somewhat than which no greater can be conceived.”

Anselim argues that the painter is ready to work on a given paint only after having a clear understanding of what the end-product of the paint has to be. Similarly, the knowledge about God needs to start by having an idea about him then go forth and get evidence to prove his existence.

Using the analogy of the painter, God cannot only exist in the mind but rather, it is better if he exists in reality. As a painter is able to foresee the product of his work and hence conceive it in the mind, so is the knowledge about God supposed to be as existing in the mind alone is not enough but rather how practical it is.

2.

Paragraph 4 can be re-written as “Not only does this God exist in not so true sense that he cannot even be perceived not to exist. For it is possible to form the conception of an object whose existence shall be inconceivable… it is also feasible to come up with a conception of an object whose non-existence cannot be easily conceived.”

3. There are five ways through which Aquinas proves the existence of God. The first way is the argument from motion. In this sense, he explains that nothing in life can move on its own. Everything in motion is moved by something else which must be God. The second way in which he describes God is the argument from efficient causes where he argues that nothing exists on its own. If an efficient cause doesn’t exist initially, its effect cannot be perceived. It is therefore only logical to agree that God is the efficient…