Document Type
Article
Article Version
Post-print
Publication Date
2007
Abstract
In a Sentences Commentary written about 1250 the Franciscan Richard Rufus subjects Anselm's argument for God's existence in his Proslogion to the most trenchant criticism since Gaunilon wrote his response on behalf of the "fool." Anselm's argument is subtle but sophistical, claims Rufus, because he fails to distinguish between signification and supposition. Rufus therefore offers five reformulations of the Anselmian argument, which we restate in modem formal logic and four of which we claim are valid, the fifth turning on a possible scribal error. Rufus's final conclusion is that the formulation in Proslogion, chapter 3, is convincing, but not that of chapter 2.
Publication Title
International Philosophical Quarterly
Repository Citation
DeWitt, Richard and Long, R. James, "Richard Rufus's reformulations of Anselm's Proslogion argument" (2007). Philosophy Faculty Publications. 2.
https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/philosophy-facultypubs/2
Published Citation
DeWitt, Richard, and James R. Long. 2007. Richard Rufus's reformulations of Anselm's Proslogion argument. International Philosophical Quarterly 47 (187), 329-347.
Peer Reviewed
Comments
Copyright Fordham University 2007