ST.

FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE SEMINARY

Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande, Davao City

ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO

NAME: IVAN CLARK L. PALABAO YEAR LEVEL: DY-2 MAXIMILIAM KOLBE

DIOCESE: DIOCESE OF MATI PROFESSOR: REV. FR. RENE RIBAC, DCD

1. What is/are the strong point/s of the ontological argument of St. Anselm?

In my opinion, one of St. Anselm's most powerful statements is that the term "God" is
already a thinking about God. If one does not believe in God, he is unable to express it because
simply saying it is a type of God's abstraction.

2. What is the weakest point of St. Anselm’s ontological argument?

For me, Anselm's argument for the existence of God is a good argument. This could be one
of the causes for his sainthood. His reasoning, however, can still be challenged because his logic
may have been flawed, and St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the critics of his argument. His
claim, which I believe is the weakest, does not address the holistic view because of his contempt
for those who do not believe in the existence of God. Thus, it does not consider those people
whose faith does not reach God. Because of that, atheism could still find a hole to argue that God
does not exist.

3. Among the 5 proofs of God’s existence of St. Thomas, what do you think is the
strongest? Why?

For me, the strongest claim of St. Thomas Aquinas is the “Efficient Cause.” It reminds of
Augustine’s argument regarding with his order of beings. This cause, which is God, must never
be caused by something. However, if we believe that all things are caused by something, thus
including God, it therefore leads to the infinite causes of things. So, there must be someone who
unchangeable, not caused by something, and not affected by anything – that is God.

4. Among the 5 proofs proposed by Thomas, what is the weakest claim? Why?

First and foremost, I would like to honestly say that I can’t find his weakest claim for the
reason that all of his arguments are so strong – that no one could refute it. Though the intention
of this is to find the weakest and not to argue with his argument however all of those are really
acceptable and substantial. I guess he cannot even be called as the “Angelic Doctor” is he has the
weakest claim. That is why, I could really say that he does not have the weakest claim among his
five ways.