ON THE NATURE OF ANSELM'S ARGUMENT. A CRITIQUE OF JEAN-LUC MARION'S INTERPRETATION

Abstract

This paper discusses the non-metaphysical interpretation that Jean-Luc Marion proposes of Saint Anselm's proof of the existence of God in his Proslo­gion. It shows how Marion distorts Anselm's argument through hermeneutical presuppositions that are incompatible with the metaphysical foundations of Anselm's argument. Some of the contradictions and inconsistencies that perme­ate Marion's reasoning are exposed and criticized. As a result, and contrary to Marion's view, this study sustains that the ratio Anselmi undoubtedly presupposes the metaphysical framework of Anselm's thought, having thus an ontological dimension (even if not exactly in the Kantian sense).