Explore key ideas in the ontological argument. (8 marks) A priori Logic not evidence Deductive Premises contain conclusion Anselm Premises Reality and Understanding Better in both than just one Necessary Existence Superior to contingent and must always exist

Explore key ideas in the ontological argument. (8 marks) The ontological argument takes an a priori approach, this is seeking to prove the existence of God based on logic and reason rather than empirical evidence. The argument is deductive meaning that the premises contain the conclusion that it reaches, and the argument is structured in such a way as to make the conclusion the only possible one that can be deduced from its premises. The argument was developed by Anselm in 1078 who believed that the definition of God as ‘That which nothing greater can be conceived’ proved analytically that God existed. By The premises of the argument can be set out as follows: Premise 1: God is that which nothing greater can be conceived. Premise 2: It is better to exist in reality and in understanding than just understanding. Premise 3: For God to be the greatest thing he must exist in reality and in understanding. Conclusion: God exists in reality. The premises of the argument seek to demonstrate that existing in reality is better than existing merely in understanding, and as God is the greatest, he must exist in reality. This is based on the idea that to only exist in understanding would mean that an improvement could be made to him, ie being brought into existence and this is logically impossible since God is the greatest thing and requires no improvement. The argument further attempts to prove to the atheist that God exists by introducing the concept of necessary existence. Anselm asserted that an inseparable predicate of God being the greatest possible being was having necessary existence, this is when something does not depend on anything else for its existence. As a necessary being does not depend on anything else for its existence, there is nothing that can be done to stop it from existing and therefore it must always exist. Norman Malcolm supported Anselm in this assertion and concurred that a necessary being cannot not exist.