What is a significant consequence of defining God as necessary, according to Anselm's argument?

Prepare for the OCR A-Level Philosophy Exam with interactive quizzes, flashcards, and insightful explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Defining God as necessary carries profound implications for God's existence and nature. According to Anselm's argument, God is defined as "that than which nothing greater can be conceived," which implies that existence is a necessary attribute of such a being. When God is depicted as necessary, it means that God's existence is not contingent on anything else; rather, God exists independently of human perception, beliefs, or understanding.

This notion reinforces the idea that God's essence and existence are intrinsic and immutable, meaning God is not reliant on human awareness for existence. Therefore, God exists in all possible worlds and does not depend on external factors for His existence. The idea of necessity in Anselm’s argument strongly supports the view of God as the ultimate reality that gives rise to all other existences, further underscoring the philosophical claim about the nature of divine existence.

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