hussain ushāqi

Anselm’s argument is one of the most debated arguments for the existence of God. It is based on the notion of “the Supreme Being”, bridging it to its reality. This argument, however, has had its ambiguity and its pros and cons. For instance, Descartes affirmed it while Kant and Russell rejected it. From among Muslim philosophers, Shahīd Mutahari and Ayatullāh Javādi Āmuli have criticized this argument. This article tries to restructure the argument in a way that it can answer all criticisms.

The author in this article argues that the non-conditioned reality of existence is principal (A©īl), and its principality is concomitant with its essential necessity. Therefore, the non-conditioned reality of existence is necessarily existent by itself. And since a necessarily existent does not allow any plurality, then this non-conditioned reality is clean of any kind of plurality. The article proceeds by explaining some critiques against this claim and answering them.