This paper attempts to characterize the “ontological proof” for the existence of God. It discusses Wolfson's analysis of the proof and argues that his characterization is not mistaken but insufficient. It is then argued that the characterization here proposed provides a good account of Anselm's and Descartes’ proof, but shows that there is no “ontological proof” in Spinoza. The paper concludes by identifying a confusion between metaphysical and epistemological notions, which conflates very different arguments under the heading “ontological proof.”
Keywords: Anselm, conceivability, Descartes, God, ontological proof, possibility, Spinoza, Wolfson