an a priori argument for the existence of God, asserting that as existence is a perfection, and as God is conceived of as the most perfect being, it follows that God must exist; originated by Anselm, later used by Duns Scotus, Descartes, and Leibniz.
Also called ontological proof.
Origin
1875-80
British Dictionary definitions for ontological argument
ontological argument
noun (philosophy)
1.
the traditional a priori argument for the existence of God on the grounds that the concept itself necessitates existence Compare cosmological argument, teleological argument
2.
any analogous argument from the nature of some concept to the existence of whatever instantiates it