Anselm's ontological argument is an a priori argument, meaning it comes BEFORE experience. I'm trying to work on some questions for school that pertains to this, but this one caught me off guard: In his critique of Anselm, Gaunilo notes that just because we can conceive of the "best island", does not mean that this "island" actually exists. How would Anselm respond to this in still maintaining that God exists? any ideas?
He would say something like: the "best island" cannot really be the best if it only exists in the mind. Existing is better than non-existing, so if it really is the "best island" that you are conceiving, then it necessarily exists.