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Contraposition Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

that

Hence, even the fool is convinced that something exists in the understanding, at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived. For, when he hears of this, he understands it. And whatever is understood, exists in the understanding. And assuredly that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone. For, suppose it exists in the understanding alone: then it can be conceived to exist in reality; which is greater.

Is 'that' a noun? What does it refer to?
  

Top answer

It's a pronoun, referring to the greatest thing that can be conceived (apparently equated with ***). It is the subject of "cannot exist".

— GPY

  • It's a pronoun, referring to the greatest thing that can be conceived (apparently equated with ***).
  • It is the subject of "cannot exist".
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2 Answers
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It's a pronoun, referring to the greatest thing that can be conceived (apparently equated with ***). It is the subject of "cannot exist".
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contrapositionIs 'that' a noun? What does it refer to?
It is a pronoun and it refers to the definition in the following clause (bracketed below). This is a version of an 11th century text; today we would not use the two commas.

And assuredly that [than which nothing greater can be conceived] cannot exist in the understanding alone.
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