Gaunilo's Lost Island thought experiment shows that if Anselm's line of reasoning is correct, then
A) you could prove that the greatest anything exists.
B) God is evil.
C) heaven is like an island we can never find.
D) lost souls stay behind on earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gaunilo's Lost Island thought experiment is a critique of Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God. Gaunilo argued that if Anselm's reasoning were correct, then one could use similar logic to prove the existence of the greatest conceivable island, which is absurd. This demonstrates a flaw in Anselm's argument by showing it can be used to "prove" the existence of anything as the "greatest" of its kind.

Gaunilo's Lost Island Thought Experiment Shows That If Anselm's Line