Gain Immediate access to our Essays
FREE access exchanged for your work, or pay £9.99
Words: | Submitted: Wed Jul 30 2008
... is greater to exist in reality as well as the mind, rather than just mind alone - and by definition, God is "that-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought". If "that-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-thought" existed in the mind alone, it would be possible to conceive something greater - a God in reality - and that is obviously a contradiction. Therefore, T.W.N.G.T. cannot exist only in the mind and "there is absolutely no doubt that something-than-which-a-greater cannot-be-thought" (Anselm, p. 25) exists both in the mind and in reality. In response, Gaunilo replies "on behalf of the Fool" (Gaunilo, p. 26). He illustrates his argument by using the analogy of the "Lost Island" - an island greater than all others. This island is "blessed with all manner of priceless riches and delights in abundance...and, having no owner or inhabitant, it is superior to all those other lands that men inhabit" (Gaunilo, p. 26). Gaunilo points out that this concept can be understood ...
FREE access exchanged for your work, or pay £9.99