Anselm´s Other Argument

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 CE), in his work Proslogion, originated the "ontological argument" for God´s existence, famously arguing that "something than which nothing greater can be conceived," which he identifies with God, must actually exist, for otherwise something greater could indeed be conceived. Some commentators have claimed that although Anselm may not have been conscious of the fact, the Proslogion as well as his Reply to Gaunilo contains passages that constitute a second independent proof: a "modal ontological argument" that concerns the supposed logical necessity of God´s existence. Other commentators disagree, countering that the alleged second argument does not stand on its own but presupposes the conclusion of the first.