Medieval Philosophy

by Peter S. Adamson

As Anselm will later point out in his replies to Gaunilo’s criticism, this is a subtle but crucial difference. The ontological argument would not work if we just said that God is greater than anything else (Replies §5). We need to say that God is that than which nothing greater exists or indeed could exist: “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” This leaves room for Anselm to admit that God outstrips our understanding. If He were the greatest thing we can conceive, then obviously we would be in a position to conceive of Him. But if He is that than which nothing greater can be conceived, He may to some extent lie beyond our grasp. Still, we grasp Him to some extent, just as we must to some extent grasp anything when we call it “ineffable” or “inconceivable” (Replies §9). Suppose I say “Five trillion is an inconceivably large number.” Even as I tell you that you can’t conceive of this number, I am telling you something about it, namely that it lies beyond your comprehension.