In This Reading We Encounter St

question 8

True/False

In this reading we encounter St. Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God and Gaunilo's reply. The argument goes like this: God is by definition "a being than which nothing greater can be conceived." If God, the greatest being that can be conceived, exists only in our minds, then there must be a being greater than God-that is, a God that exists in reality (an existing being is greater than an imaginary one). But this leads to a contradiction: A being greater than God is impossible. Therefore, God must exist in reality (as well as in the mind). Gaunilo replies that if Anselm's reasoning were sound, we could prove something ridiculous-namely, that the greatest island possible exists in reality.
-Rowe says we may examine and analyze the idea of a unicorn, but it is only by our experience of the world that we can determine that such a thing exists.

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Definitions:

Personality Type

A classification of individuals based on their characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Brain Function

The activities and processes that the brain performs to support cognition, emotion, behavior, and physiological operations.

Behaviour

The actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli.