Confusing But True

“This proposition is indeed so true that its negation is inconceivable. For it is quite conceivable that there is something whose non-existence is inconceivable, and this must be greater than that whose non-existence is conceivable. Wherefore, if that thing than which no greater thing is conceivable can be conceived as non-existent; then that very thing than which a greater is inconceivable is not that than which a greater is inconceivable; which is a contradiction.

So true is that there exists something than which a greater is inconceivable, that its non-existence is inconceivable: and this thing you are, O Lord our God!” – Anselm ‘Ontological Proof,’ Proslogion, iii and iv.

What in the world is Anselm taking about? Can faham or not, what it says? Try reading it again, and try to decipher what he is saying.

I said, try reading it yourself again! And try to understand what it says. I’m not going to explain it until you’ve tried it on your own.





















Try it again! Lazy lazy, air so hazy…





















Still cannot understand? Try again! “Greater joy hath no man than this, that a man tries to understand something before his friends.” – C. S. Hooi.





















Oklah, by now, if you’ve understood it by yourself, I’m sure you’re feeling very happy. If not, then let me try to explain it plainly. First, replace the word “conceivable” with “can be accepted,” and replace the word “inconceivable” with “cannot be imagined.” What Anselm is trying to say can be broken down in a logical flow of thought.

1. Something whose non-existence “cannot be imagined” must be greater than something whose non-existence is “can be accepted.”

2. Therefore, the greatest thing must be something whose non-existence “cannot be imagined.”

3. Mr. X is the greatest thing, so his non-existence “cannot be imagined.”

4. If we say Mr. X’s non-existence “can be accepted,”

5. Therefore, Mr. X is no longer the greatest thing, because his non-existence “can be accepted.”

If Mr. X is the greatest thing, then his non-existence “cannot be imagined.” If Mr. X is not the greatest thing, then his non-existence “can be accepted.” Mr. X cannot be both the greatest thing, and whose existence “can be accepted.” This is a contradiction.

In essence, the point that Anselm is trying to make is this:

“That something, which nothing can be greater than… That something, whose non-existence ‘cannot be imagined,’… That Mr. X that I’m talking about… Is the Lord our God!"

Anselm comes up with more confusing but true statements. Try sampling this one:

“I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand: for this I also believe, that unless I believe I will not understand.”

This one, I’ll let you figure out yourself as homework :)