Rethinking Anselm's arguments : a vindication of his proof of the existence of God / by Richard Campbell.

"This book re-examines Anselm's famous arguments for the existence of God in his Proslogion, and in his Reply. It demonstrates how he validly deduces from plausible premises that God so truly exists that He could not be thought not to exist. Most commentators, ancient and modern, wrongly located his argument in a passage which is not about God at all. It becomes evident that, consequently, much contemporary criticism is based on misreading and misunderstanding his text. It reconstructs his reasoning through three distinct but logically connected stages. It shows that, even if Anselm's crucial premises are sceptically interpreted, his conclusions still follow. Properly understood, this argument is not vulnerable to the standard criticisms, including Gaunilo's 'Lost island' counter-example"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The text of Proslogion -- The structure of Anselm's argument for the existence of God -- The first stage: being in the understanding -- The first stage: being in reality -- The transition to the second stage: deducing its premise -- The second stage: existing intensely -- The third stage: the existence of God -- The fool and his defenders -- Anselm's other arguments -- The plausibility of the premises -- The character of the argument -- The quest continues.

Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on April 01, 2020).

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