“The Cosmological Argument of St.

Anselm”

St. Anselm stated that through the reason of the human person, it could create a
natural theology or metaphysics that is rationally coherent and doesn’t depend on any
authority other than rationality. He also gave a view enough through natural theology that
consists of a rational version of what is believed, his argument through God’s existence that
is through human reason could penetrate the profundity of God.

The Cosmological Argument was written on his book named “Proslogion” that from
the three arguments which stated the realism of Anselm was decided by the monks to made it
a simplified argument that states the “Faith seeking understanding”. Anselm’s thought
proceeds from within his mind instead of having a start through the assumption which begins
on empirical evidence from which the mind can move to God logically. As Anselm said,
“God is the greatest conceivable being”. This statement bears in our mind the thought that
God exist. But he gives an example as Psalm 14 : 1 which is a fool had stated that denial of
existence of God. To bear in our minds, whenever we have an idea of a thing that is in our
minds we cannot deny that they exist. So therefore, when the fool hears the phrase “God is
the greatest conceivable being” therefore he has a concrete or precise understanding of God
because it is already in his mind.

By knowing this statement, it reminds me the question “Is there a possibility to

become an atheist?”, well the answer for me is yes, but they have an similarity from the fool
from Psalm 14:1 that they both deny the existence of God but in the first place is they already
have in their mind the concept of what is God, this shows what St.Anselm is trying to say is
there are things that first exists in our minds and we know that it exists. If the person denies
the existence of God, he’s already had an precise idea because he already understands or
heard what it is.

The difference between Aquinas and Anselm in the argument of the existence of God
was to Aquinas, he proved the five ways about the existence of God through the experiences
that we had on our surrounding while Anselm discussed through logical reasoning that how
does God exist through our human reason and through reality.

In conclusion, whenever we think of something in our minds, there are things that
only exist in our minds and also there is also exist in our minds that also exist in reality. In
this, if we bear in our minds that God is the greatest conceivable being He is not the only
being that is the greatest conceivable being that exists, But rather He should also exist in
reality in order to prove that God exists.

- Sem. John Clemar E. Bausa

 “The Cosmological Argument of St. Anselm”

St. Anselm stated that the reason of the human person could create a natural theology
or metaphysics that is rationally coherent and doesn’t depend on any authority other than
rationality. He also gave a view through natural theology that consists of a rational version of
what is believed; his argument through God’s existence, that is, through human reason, could
penetrate the profundity of God.

The Cosmological Argument was written in his book that from the three arguments
that stated the realism of Anselm, it was decided by the monks to make it a simplified
argument that states "faith seeking understanding". Anselm’s thought proceeds from within
his mind instead of having a start through the assumption, which begins with empirical
evidence from which the mind can move logically to God. As Anselm said, "God is the
greatest conceivable being". This statement bears in mind the thought that God exists. But he
gives an example in Psalm 14:1, in which a fool states that he denies the existence of God. To
bear in mind, whenever we have an idea of a thing that is in our minds, we cannot deny that it
exists. So therefore, when the fool hears the phrase "God is the greatest conceivable being,"
he has a concrete or precise understanding of God because it is already in his mind.

By knowing this statement, it reminds me of the question "Is there a possibility to

become an By knowing this statement, it reminds me of the question "Is there a possibility to
become an atheist?" Well, the answer for me is yes, but they have a similarity to the fool
from Psalm 14:1 in that they both deny the existence of God, but in the first place, they
already have in their minds the concept of what is God. This shows what St. Anselm is trying
to say: there are things that first exist in our minds, and we know that they exist. If the person
denies the existence of God, he’s already had a precise idea because he already understands
or has heard what it is.

Another example is the one that you are thinking about a food you want to east for
example, you are craving for a slice of pizza. It is first comes to your mind and in order to
satisfy from your craving it should be exist also in reality. So you will decide to buy or make
you own slice of pizza. This is considered as one of the example of how St. Anselm is trying
to say in the argument of the existence of God.

The difference between Aquinas and Anselm in the argument of the existence of God
was that for Aquinas, he proved the five ways about the existence of God through the
experiences that we had in our surroundings, while Anselm discussed through logical
reasoning how God exists through our human reason and through reality.

In conclusion, whenever we think of something in our minds, there are things that
only exist in our minds, and there are also things that exist in our minds that also exist in
reality. In this, if we bear in mind that God is the greatest conceivable being, He is not the
only being that is the greatest conceivable being that exists; rather, He should also exist in
reality in order to prove that God exists.

Sem. John Clemar E. Bausa