Discuss the concept of God as the necessary being.

The concept of God as the necessary being refers to the idea that God's existence is not contingent upon anything else but is rather essential and self-existent. According to this concept, God's existence is not dependent on any external factors or conditions, but rather God exists necessarily and eternally.

This concept is often associated with the ontological argument for the existence of God, which argues that the very concept of God implies necessary existence. Proponents of this argument, such as philosopher Anselm of Canterbury, claim that God is the greatest conceivable being, and existence is a necessary attribute of such a being. In other words, if God is defined as the greatest possible being, then existence must be a part of that greatness.

The concept of God as the necessary being also implies that God's existence is not subject to change or contingency. Unlike contingent beings, which rely on external causes or conditions for their existence, God's existence is independent and unchanging. This concept is often contrasted with the idea of contingent beings, which are dependent on other factors for their existence.

Overall, the concept of God as the necessary being asserts that God's existence is not contingent or dependent on anything else, but rather God exists necessarily and eternally. This concept is central to many philosophical discussions and arguments regarding the existence of God.