Anselm's Ontological Argument

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understand the idea of the greatest conceivable being, it must exist in his understanding.

“So even the fool must admit that something than which nothing greater can be thought exists at least in his understanding, since he understands this when he hears it, and whatever is understood exists in the understanding.” (Proslogion, 415)

Normally, one would not conclude that just because something exists in the understanding, it must exist in reality as well. Anselm recognizes this and even provides an example, saying that a painter may have a finished work of art in his mind, without actually creating it in reality. However, he contends that in this case, if the greatest conceivable being exists in the understanding, it must exist in reality as well. Anselm assumes that existence in reality is a greater good than existence in the understanding alone. Considering this, suppose that the greatest conceivable being does exist only in the understanding. If that were the case, ...

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