Gaunilo's Criticism of the Ontological Argument (RS A-level)

Here, we'll examine Gaunilo's Perfect Island Objection to Anselm's Ontological Argument.

Perfect for the study of A-level RS / Philosophy

[Hexalobular]

I say the ontological argument is pure equivocation.
If Anselm is referring to the greatest _conceivable_ being then we have a paradox if we don't _conceive_ of it as existing but it's actual existence or lack thereof has no effect on our conception of it.
If he were referring to the _actually_ greatest being then it wouldn't have to be a god, just whatever actual being happens to be the greatest, for all we know, some human, but it could be an alien if any exist.

[rumidude]

I have never ever ever been impressed by the ontological argument for god, in any of it's various iterations. In short, it doesn't pass the smell test.