Anselm's Argument: Divine Necessity

Anselm of Canterbury's first modal ontological argument for God's existence is discussed, with Brian Leftow presenting his interpretation of Anselm's modal metaphysics and defending the argument's commitment to the Brouwer system of modal logic. He also addresses objections to Anselm's premise that God would exist with absolute necessity and provides new arguments in support of it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Anselm of Canterbury presented the initial modal ontological argument for God's existence, yet scholars have largely neglected to explore the modal concepts employed in this argument and the validity of Anselm's metaphysical framework for employing them. In this essay, Brian Leftow delves into Anselm's modal metaphysics, contending that Anselm possesses an absolute, broadly logical, or metaphysical modal concept. He further argues that Anselm's metaphysics yields acceptable truth makers for claims within this modality. Leftow demonstrates that Anselm's modal argument is essentially committed to the Brouwer system of modal logic, and he defends the inclusion of Brouwer within the realm of absolute or metaphysical modality. Additionally, Leftow offers robust defenses against existing objections to Anselm's premise that God would exist with absolute necessity, presenting fresh arguments in support of it and ultimately defending all but one premise of Anselm's most compelling argument for God's existence.

Anselm of Canterbury presented the initial modal ontological argument for God's existence, yet scholars have largely neglected to explore the modal concepts employed in this argument and the validity of Anselm's metaphysical framework for employing them. In this essay, Brian Leftow delves into Anselm's modal metaphysics, contending that Anselm possesses an absolute, broadly logical, or metaphysical modal concept. He further argues that Anselm's metaphysics yields acceptable truth makers for claims within this modality. Leftow demonstrates that Anselm's modal argument is essentially committed to the Brouwer system of modal logic, and he defends the inclusion of Brouwer within the realm of absolute or metaphysical modality. Additionally, Leftow offers robust defenses against existing objections to Anselm's premise that God would exist with absolute necessity, presenting fresh arguments in support of it and ultimately defending all but one premise of Anselm's most compelling argument for God's existence.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 241 x 164 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192896926