exploring the argument for god from truth

This paper explores the philosophical merits of the argument from truth for the existence of god. it is an argument with a venerable historical tradition and was proposed by saint augustine, saint anselm and saint bonaventure – but rejected by saint thomas aquinas. the goal is not to arrive at an incontrovertible version of the argument, but to assemble and assess its relevant elements. there are epistemological reasons to question whether an incontrovertible argument or ‘proof’ in the common understanding of it is possible, though not because of the dubitability of god but because god himself is the ultimate source of all truth and certainty that any proof or argument can aim for, and the goal of the argument from truth is to make precisely that visible. although the approach is systematic rather than historical, the historical pedigree of the argument is explicitly acknowledged so that it can be traced to its proper background – not because it cannot stand on its own, but to avoid the risk of misinterpretation.