St. Anselm Essay - 1022 Words

St. Anselm Not every great writer can be correct in what he or she is saying. This is the idea that Gaunilo had in mind when he wrote his criticism to St. Anselm’s Ontological Argument which states that if something greater than anything else that could be thought of is conceived in the understanding then it must exist. Gaunilo says it is foolish to believe in the existence of something just because it is understood. He says there must be some kind of other explanation. In this paper, I will try to explain both Anselm’s theory and Gaunilo’s argument by first breaking each of them down in simpler terms. I will attempt to show what Gaunilo is trying to discredit with his objection. One of St. Anselm’s theological topics†¦show more content†¦If a child imagines the greatest toy he can think of and then is able to play with it, it has to be better than just the image of the toy in the child’s mind. He can feel it and hold it and play with this perfe ct thing that nothing, in his eyes, can beat. He says it is perfect and part of that perfection comes from the fact that he can play with his creation. If God is perfect in human terms then he must exist, because if he did not then one can imagine something greater that does. What Anselm is saying is that God is perfect, to be perfect is to exist; therefore, God exists. Anselm uses an analogy of a fool to try and display what is meant by his idea. First, he says, â€Å"Truly there is a God, although the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God† (68). The fool is questioning whether or not God exists. He understands what God is, and he knows that God is the greatest being that can be conceived. He understands that this being known as God possesses every human perfection possible. This then, puts God into his understanding or rather, into his mind just as the toy was in the mind of the child. However, the fool cannot understand God to exist. He knows what the grea test being is; he just cannot see that being in front of him. He does not understand that something can exist in reality without being a concrete item or being. He cannot touch God or talk to or listen to God. He can only see God in his mind, so he is confused as to whether GodShow MoreRelatedSt. Anselm Of Canterbury2376 Words   |  10 Pagesphilosophers have been concerned with proving the existence of god, and from this has sprouted many arguments attempting to prove or disprove god’s existence from a wide variety of different perspectives. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury has proved a true pioneer in the study of the philosophy of religion. Anselm provided one of the most crucial and influential solutions to solving the mystery of god’s existence, the Ontological Argument. While there were many different arguments (along with their originators)Read MoreEssay about St. Anselm of Canterbury1110 Words   |  5 Pagesitself, insufficient in proving that God e xists. There are a few problems with the argument that I will be discussing in detail in an attempt to illustrate exactly why ‘The Ontological Argument’ is unsatisfactory. The Definition of ‘Greater’ St. Anselm of Canterbury defined God as â€Å"that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought† (Bailey, 2002). The problem with this definition is that the term ‘greater’ is surely up for interpretation. The term ‘greater’ requires a comparison between itself and oneRead MoreSt. Anselm : Meditation On Human Redemption1052 Words   |  5 PagesAnselm, sometimes thought of as the first philosopher of Christianity, practiced scholasticism, and in his writings he attempted harmonizing faith and reason. A piece of writing he is author of is called Meditation on Human Redemption. Anselm touches on a variety of topics in this writing. The three major points this document covers are the concept of why God the Father is not able to simply forgive all of humanity’s sins, how justice is to be brought about once humans sin, and how Jesus Christ paidRead MoreAn Examination Into The Respective Proofs Of St. Aquinas1288 Words   |  6 PagesExamination into the Respective Proofs of St. Anselm and St. Aquinas During the Medieval Period, philosophers shifted their focus primarily to proving the existence of God, as well as other religious tenets. Two Saints of the Catholic Church, St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas, developed their own respective proofs for the existence of God. These proofs have gained fame over the subsequent centuries and still face debate and comparison today. Although both St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas offer proofs forRead MoreCan We Prove God Exists? Essay562 Words   |  3 Pages Philosophers, whether they are atheists, or believers have always been eager to discuss the existence of God. Some philosophers, such as St Thomas Aquinas, and St Anselm, believe that we have proven that God exists through our senses, logic, and experience. Others such as Soren Kierkegaard, and Holbach, feel that we will never have the answer to this question due to our human limitations, and reason. The believer tends to rely on faith for his belief, and claim they do not need proof in orderRead MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas On The Existence Of God1338 Words   |  6 Pagestheir focus primarily to proving the existence of God, as well as other religious tenets they held. Two Saints of the Catholic Church, St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas, developed their own respective proofs for the existence of God. These proofs have gained fame over the subsequent centuries and still face debate and comparison today. Although both St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas both offer proofs for the existence o f God, the proofs differ drastically due to the distinct argumentative methods utilizedRead MoreThe Cathedral Of Canterbury Cathedral1209 Words   |  5 PagesThe king’s wife Queen Bertha was a Christian and she worshipped at an old Roman Church, which was called St Martin’s Church. Augustine had succeeded in converting the King - Ethelbert to Christianity. Canterbury was the centre of the revived Christian Church in England. Augustine also established a building occupied by a community of monks between St Martin’s Church which is now known today as St Augustine’s Abbey. Augustine was also given another Roman Church by King Ethelbert which was later thenRead MoreBeyond a Reasonable Doubt Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagestheir own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service. The fervency of the faith that Christians hold in the existence of God necessarily intensifies the desire to prove His existence extrinsically. As Saint Anselm said in his Proslogion, â€Å"For I seek not to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand.† Many theologians and philosophers have attempted to bridge this gap between understanding and belief, perhaps attempting to make the transitionRead MoreAristotle s Five Ways Of The Existence Of God1354 Words   |  6 Pages The existence of God, or a divine being, has been a metaphysical subject that has been contemplated since thousands of years by ancient philosophers such as Thales, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and many more. Medieval philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, who is most famously known for combining principles of faith and reason into a philosophy known as Thomism. The â€Å"five ways† of proofing the existence of God, which is Article three, of Question 2, of part I, of his â€Å"Summa Theologià ¦Ã¢â‚¬ , gives five differentRead MoreThe Argument For The Existence Of God1411 Words   |  6 Pagesunison of fundamental decency and fundamental realism. St. Anselm of Canterbury acquired what we’ve cultured to being the ontological argument. He starts his argument with stating a fool can comprehend/grasp the idea a being than of which nothing greater can be conceived. Anselm persists towards affirming a fool would voice that the thought of an existing life is merely his viewpoint an d in the viewpoint of others but not reality. But, Anselm also acknowledges the likelihood of this existence living

The Effects Of Western Education And Influence On The...

Chinua Achebe, renowned African writer, writes No Longer At Ease as a message on the effects of western education and influence on the African society. The story focuses on Obi Okonkwo, the protagonist, and his alienation to his homeland after returning from studying abroad in England. Obi’s tragedy demonstrates themes such as the corruptibility of civil servants, tradition versus progression, and the impact of education, as well as themes covered in the World History course. In all, the book is very appealing and Chinua Achebe utilizes rhetorical appeals to make a compelling case, convincing the reader of his point of view. Very cleverly, Achebe writes the novel in a cyclical fashion, where the end of the story is actually the beginning of the book, and throughout the book he explains the situations leading up to the end. In Chapter 5 during a conversation between Obi and the Chairman, Obi expresses his theory on what makes a proper tragedy. In response to the Chairman, Obi explains that committing suicide is in no way a tragedy. He adds: â€Å"Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly forever. Conventional tragedy is too easy. The hero dies and we feel a purging of emotions. A real tragedy takes place in a corner, in an untidy spot†¦. where the rest of the world is not aware of it.† Obi continues by analyzing the protagonist in the novel that they were discussing, and adds that there was â€Å"no release for for him. When the story ends, he is still reading. There is noShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Colonization On The Indigenous People Of Rhodesia Nervous Conditions 1711 Words   |  7 Pagescrisis as a result of imperial oppression over the language and educational system of the nation. The role of English language and culture, imposed by colonial education, emphasizes the movement for natives to abandon their indigenous cultural and linguistic roots. The mental colonization of the colonized by the means of English language, education, and European cultural values results in a state of displacement, alienation, and identity confusion in the individual. In the novel, Dangarembga depictsRead MoreCultural Norms And Practices Are Shaped And Practiced Over The Years Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesthe needs of the people† (Baffoe 2005). As traditional societies develop as a result of modernization, the original indigenous practices of the community begin to disappear, and are replaced by ideas from more developed Western countries. Culture is forever changing, and it adapts based on the changes happening within the people of the community and their environment. With modernization, ideas and beliefs that are practiced in Western societies are diffused across the world, setting the standard forRead MoreChinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Essay1736 Words   |  7 Pagesclassic African literary tale Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a brilliant account of historical African culture and the destruction colonialism can cause upon such cultures. As the reader follows the narrative and complexity of the character s through the novel, a sense of pride, trust, and faith in history emerges. Yet, with the introduction of colonialism the characters must learn to embrace and adapt to a new culture and set of beliefs or face termination from society. The novelRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1325 Words   |  6 PagesAbdulhameed AlHababi Western Civilization 2 December 2, 2014 Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Thing Fall Apart, first published in 1958, is Chinua Achebe’s first and most acclaimed novel. Achebe illustrates an approving rendering of Nigerian and African tribal life prior to and subsequent to colonialism. Achebe presents various aspects of a native African community, including war, women mistreatment, violence and conflict, while maintaining a balanceRead MoreColonization of Africa1542 Words   |  7 PagesConquests, colonization, the slave trade, and the spread of consumerist society have shaped and formed the grounds for which developing countries find themselves today. The countries of the developing world subjected to colonialism have been faced with a number of impediments throughout the years which have hindered social and economic growth, and laid the foundation which bred cultural conflict. Colonialism, however, too bought Western civilization and all its attractions to underdeveloped countries duringRead MoreImpact Of Imperialism On The Middle East, Africa, An d Asia1287 Words   |  6 PagesImperialism is defined as a policy of extending a country s power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Countries during the Industrial Revolution wanted to imperialize due to social, political, and economic reasons. As early as the mid 1800’s, the European countries craved the idea of power and conquering new lands in order to obtain resources/raw materials. They took over Africa, the Ottoman Empire, India, and Southeast Asia due to this as well as for their convenient location. TheyRead MoreThe Effects Of Colonialism And Western Powers On Africa890 Words   |  4 Pagesrebuilding and renewal in the continent. With the influences of colonialism and western powers the complete system of African cultures have been restructured and globalized. This has had negative and positive effects on the people of Africa, its economy and government. After colonialism, relationships between states have still remained and Western powers are a do minate force in the direction of their economy. Alongside this, there are many other influences that are internal and not external that is contributingRead MoreWestern Imperialism Influence on African Culture1132 Words   |  5 PagesFebruary 2013 Impact of Western Imperialism on the African Community Western imperialism, though it has its good qualities, essentially led to the breakdown and ending of the African community. Their religion, new language, and political knowledge and power make it impossible for both communities to exist together. The most apparent form of cultural imperialism from the West in Things Fall Apart are the differences in the law making systems of the village and the western missionaries. In chapterRead MoreOf mimicry and man1676 Words   |  7 Pagesmilitary camouflage practice being conveyed as a war strategy. Further on, he quotes Thomas Macaulay (1835) on the education in British India, which exposes the need to form a collective justification for colonial control. This can create a group which mimics the colonizer, facilitating the imposition of power over the rest of the native society and thereby putting the colonial education under the rule of imperial policy. The end result is a creation of a class of mimetic men, which mimic the colonizerRead MoreThe Conflict Between Tradition And Western Influence On Nigeria1665 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2014, Binyavanga Wainaina, a well-known Kenyan author and journalist, wrote, â€Å"There is no country in the world with the diversity, confidence, ta lent and black pride like Nigeria.† There is certainly truth to these words. The west african country of Nigeria has proven itself to be a successful and enduring land. As the English began exploring and colonizing the land grounded in tradition and folklore, Nigeria effectively adapted and grew. Even when torn apart, Nigeria has pulled itself back together

Compare and Constrast Classical China and Classical India Free Essays

Though they had some different qualities, Classical China and India were very similar. The complexities of both India and China’s social hierarchy systems were very different. However their religious views and ideas were similar, and they both began to decline but were able to recover and maintain stability. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Constrast Classical China and Classical India or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both China and India used social hierarchy systems, but they were used differently. India used a very strict system called Varna, or the caste system. People only associated with people in their class. Marriage outside of your class and helping people in lower classes was absolutely forbidden. People couldn’t even eat or drink with people outside of their class. The Chinese rules of social hierarchy were very different. The Chinese believed in reciprocal respect within relationships. For example, the ruler respects the subject and the subject respects the ruler. Another major difference was the specific levels of the social ladder. The caste system of India had four basic levels: the Brahmins (priests), followed by the Kshatriyas (warriors), then the Vaishyas (work people), and finally the Shudras (peasants). All four of these castes were divided into subgroups called jati. This system was very complex and stratified and a person could not change castes. The Chinese only had three steps on their social ladder. On top was the educated bureaucrats and landowners. The peasants and the urban artisans were in the middle class and the â€Å"mean† or meaningless people were at the bottom. Priests in India were considered very powerful and they were at the top of society. The Classical Chinese emperors used a centralized religion called Confucianism and a priest class wasn’t necessary. There was other religions in China but the priests were isolated from the rest of the population. The Chinese social system was very simple and the Indian caste system was more specific. India and China used different hierarchy systems, but they had similar religious views and ideas. At this point in time Hinduism was very popular in India and the Chinese emperors stressed confucian ideas. Hinduism and Confucianism were very similar. In both religions there was no specific gods to be worshiped, but there was religious shrines. People were obedient to confucianism because it stressed respect to all people. The goal of Hinduism was to free your soul and reach moksha. In order to do so people had to follow the rules and do the right thing. Confucianism and Hinduism worked because all people benefited from them. Another major similarity of India and China was the cause and effects of the declines of their golden ages. Both India and China had strong enough civilizations to withstand the challenges they faced and not completely fall. Because of China’s strong political system and because of India’s uniform religion, both civilizations were able to recover and revive themselves. Nomadic invaders attacked both civilizations and this was a setback but strong emperors helped regain order. The strength of the political systems was also challenged. Arab invaders tried to convert India to Islam but failed because Indian religious leaders worked to strengthen HInduism. In China bureaucrats became corrupt and started fighting for power and assassinating each other. Thankfully the Sui and Tang dynasties worked to regain power and they restored Confucianism because they knew it worked in the past. India and China lost power but they were able to maintain stability. China and India had some qualities that contrast each other, but the two civilizations were very similar. Their social hierarchy systems were different, but they shared common religious views and ideas, they both suffered a decline but they were able to recover and maintain stability. How to cite Compare and Constrast Classical China and Classical India, Papers

Caleb Hendren Essay Example For Students

Caleb Hendren Essay Mrs. Cupo English 2 HNRS 28 April 2016 Night Versus Life is Beautiful One more stab to the heart, one more reason to hate. One less reason to live. This quote by Elie Wiesel is almost a summary of his time through the Nazi death camps. He was starved beaten, people died all around him. The only thing that Elie had is his father. Both the memoirNightwritten by Elie Wiesel and the filmLife is Beautifuldirected by Roberto Benigni are good representations of the Holocaust, butNightis a better and more impactful portrayal of the Holocaust because it has a more realistic setting, a harsher tone, and a more impactful father/son relationship. The setting of a book or a film is extremely important to how the story is portrayed. The setting inNightis actually a real Nazi death camp. There are people dying all around him. He is put into an environment that is scary and unforgiving. On the contrary inLife is Beautifulthe setting is very censored and unrealistic. The setting of a story is important but the tone is also.Nightis a book that is very graphic, it is very hard to read. Definitely not a book for children to read. Almost the whole book is depressing. Especially towards the end when Elies father dies. Conversely the tone inLife is Beautifulis much happier. It is a more sugar-coated representation of the Holocaust. However because it is so loving and family centered it doesnt show how horrible the Holocaust actually was. One thing that both of these pieces of art share is a very well illustrated father and son relationship. In the memoirNightit is the father that first watches over the son but as time went on their roles switch and the son takes care of the father because the father was ill. When the father dies the book becomes even more depressing than it already is. InLife is Beautifulthe father takes care of the son. Because the son is so young the father shelters him from the horrors that surround them. He tells him it is all a game and that if they win first place they will receive a tank. Life is Beautifulisnot a good representation of the Holocaust. It is more or less a love story that took place during the Holocaust however it does have an impactful message, not about the Holocaust but about family. ButNightis non-fiction which gives it a harsher tone and it also has an emotionally tolling father son relationship which makes it a more impactful portrayal of the holocaust.