A Pantheist Ontology

Per St. Anselm, God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived, a being that contains every possible perfection. If such a being existed only in the mind it would be less great than if it existed in reality. Thus it would not be than which nothing greater can be conceived.

Existence is thus a perfection. Intellect is also a perfection since it enables us to contemplate the nature of the world around us. But a being with intellect is less perfect than a being with -all- intellects. Likewise, form is a perfection. Having the form of a rock or a squirrel is a perfection, but having any one form is less perfect than having all forms.

Therefore, god, being that than which nothing greater can be conceived and having all possible perfections must not only exists but also must be immanent in the totality of the universe itself.


Sometimes I suspect I have too much free time.