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ontological argument
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ontological argument

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Article History
Category: History & Society
Key People:
René Descartes
St. Anselm of Canterbury
Related Topics:
ontology
existence of God
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ontological argument, Argument that proceeds from the idea of God to the reality of God. It was first clearly formulated by St. Anselm in his Proslogion (1077–78); a later famous version is given by René Descartes. Anselm began with the concept of God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived. To think of such a being as existing only in thought and not also in reality involves a contradiction, since a being that lacks real existence is not a being than which none greater can be conceived. A yet greater being would be one with the further attribute ...(100 of 130 words)

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