Anslem defines "God" as "a being than which no greater can be conceived"; he argues that such a being, which exists in our understanding, must also exist in reality. For assume that God exists in the understanding but not in reality. Then we can conceive of a being greater than God (namely, one that exists in reality too). But this by definition is impossible. So God can't exist just in the understanding but not in reality.
How did Plantinga object to Anselm's argument?
Anslem defines "God" as "a being than which no greater can be conceived"; he argues that such a being, which exists in our understanding, must also exist in reality. For assume that God exists in the understanding but not in reality. Then we can conceive of a being greater than God (namely, one that exists in reality too). But this by definition is impossible. So God can't exist just in the understanding but not in reality.
How did Plantinga object to Anselm's argument?
Anselm's assumption (that God exists in the understanding but not in reality) treats God as a possible being who is later shown to exist in reality. Plantinga (like Quine) thinks an ontology of possible beings is objectionable.
Anslem defines "God" as "a being than which no greater can be conceived"; he argues that such a being, which exists in our understanding, must also exist in reality. For assume that God exists in the understanding but not in reality. Then we can conceive of a being greater than God (namely, one that exists in reality too). But this by definition is impossible. So God can't exist just in the understanding but not in reality.
How did Plantinga object to Anselm's argument?
This is Gaunilo's objection.
Anslem defines "God" as "a being than which no greater can be conceived"; he argues that such a being, which exists in our understanding, must also exist in reality. For assume that God exists in the understanding but not in reality. Then we can conceive of a being greater than God (namely, one that exists in reality too). But this by definition is impossible. So God can't exist just in the understanding but not in reality.
How did Plantinga object to Anselm's argument?
This is Kant's objection.