Proslogion

Introduction

A short Latin work of 26 chapters, written in 1077–1078 at the abbey of Bec. The title means “address”: the text is a meditation spoken to God, which opens with a prayer. Anselm’s working title was “faith seeking understanding”. In chapter 2 he states the argument that God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived; chapter 3 adds that such a being cannot even be thought not to exist. The monk Gaunilo replied with “On Behalf of the Fool”, after the fool of Psalm 14 who says there is no God; Anselm had his reply copied together with the objection. The name “ontological argument” was given only later, by Kant.

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Connections

Builds on

• Confessionsc. 400 · Augustine

Criticized in

• Summa theologiae1273 · Thomas Aquinas