ST. ANSELM'S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: AN APPRIASAL

ABSTRACT This study is a critical evaluation of Anselm’s ontological argument for God’s existence. It attempts to address the problems arising from the question of God’s existence and nature. The study aims to critical evaluate Anselm’s ontological argument, with the prime objective of investigating the foundational underpinnings of the ontological argument. In this sense, it adopts textual and critical analysis methods of enquiry to achieve its stated objective. The study reveals that, the ontological argument is a purely rational or a priori argument for God’s existence, in that, it is based on premises that can allegedly be known independently of experience of the world. The study concludes that, the problem of circularity is a problem that the ontological argument faces. Thus, the ontological argument, independently of whether one believes in the existence of God, stands as a failed attempt at proving the existence of God, though viable for theological purposes and ends.