Philosophical Ramblings

Saint Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of god is as such:

1. God is that which none greater can be conceived
2. God is perfect

Therefore, if we can conceive an idea of that which none greater can be conceived, then we can easily conceive of something greater: if that idea does exist.
Ergo, if we can conceive the idea of god, god must exist.

This proof, however, is self-entrapping: you can't conceive existence, because what you "conceive" is just that -- a concept. Following Anselm's proof, if we cannot conceive anything greater than the concept of god, and god is that which none greater than can be conceived, then god must exist as a concept.


Kant was a brilliant man, but his refutation of Anselm's idea, hinging on the word 'if,' was nearly Clinton-esque in ridiculousness and futility.