What does the ontological argument primarily seek to establish?

The ontological argument primarily seeks to establish the existence of God as an analytical proposition. This argument is rooted in the assertion that the concept of God is inherently linked to existence. Specifically, proponents of the ontological argument, such as Anselm, argue that if we can conceive of God as the greatest conceivable being, then God must exist in reality; otherwise, God would not be the greatest conceivable being, as a being that exists is greater than one that does not.

This approach is a priori, meaning it does not rely on empirical evidence or observations of the world, but rather on logical reasoning and the definitions involved. In essence, the ontological argument posits that existence is a necessary attribute of the greatest being, thereby making it an analytical proposition. This means that understanding the nature of God through the argument leads to the understanding that God's existence is therefore validated simply through the concept of God itself.