Anselm

Definition

Anselm of Canterbury was a medieval philosopher and theologian who is known for his influential arguments for the existence of God, particularly the ontological argument. He was a Benedictine monk and served as the Archbishop of Canterbury in the late 11th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Anselm's ontological argument attempts to prove the existence of God by arguing that the very concept of God as the greatest being imaginable necessitates God's existence.
2. Anselm's ontological argument was influential in medieval philosophy and theology, though it has been criticized by later philosophers such as Immanuel Kant.
3. Anselm's work was part of the broader scholastic tradition in medieval philosophy, which sought to reconcile faith and reason.
4. Anselm served as the Archbishop of Canterbury and played a significant role in the political and religious conflicts of his time.
5. Anselm's philosophical and theological writings, including his arguments for the existence of God, had a lasting impact on the development of Western philosophy and theology.

Review Questions

• Explain Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God.
  • Anselm's ontological argument attempts to prove the existence of God by arguing that the very concept of God as the greatest being imaginable necessitates God's existence. Anselm reasoned that if God is the greatest being that can be conceived, then God must exist, because a being that exists is greater than a being that does not exist. Therefore, the concept of God as the greatest being imaginable logically implies that God must exist. This argument was influential in medieval philosophy and theology, though it has been criticized by later philosophers for relying too heavily on conceptual reasoning rather than empirical evidence.
• Describe how Anselm's work was situated within the broader scholastic tradition of medieval philosophy.
  • Anselm's philosophical and theological writings, including his arguments for the existence of God, were part of the scholastic tradition in medieval philosophy. Scholasticism emphasized the use of reason and logic to understand religious doctrines and reconcile faith and reason. Anselm's ontological argument, for example, sought to use rational, conceptual reasoning to prove the existence of God. This approach was characteristic of the scholastic tradition, which aimed to systematically and rigorously analyze religious beliefs and concepts. Anselm's work, therefore, contributed to the development of scholastic philosophy and its attempts to integrate faith and reason in the medieval period.
• Analyze the lasting impact of Anselm's arguments for the existence of God on the development of Western philosophy and theology.
  • Anselm's arguments for the existence of God, particularly his ontological argument, had a significant and lasting impact on the development of Western philosophy and theology. His work was influential in the medieval period and continued to be debated and discussed by later philosophers, such as Immanuel Kant. The ontological argument, in particular, represented a novel approach to proving God's existence that relied on conceptual reasoning rather than empirical evidence. This approach influenced the trajectory of philosophical and theological inquiry, as thinkers grappled with the merits and limitations of Anselm's arguments. Moreover, Anselm's work was part of the broader scholastic tradition, which shaped the development of Western philosophy and its engagement with religious beliefs and doctrines. Anselm's lasting impact, therefore, lies in his contributions to the ongoing dialogue between faith and reason in the Western intellectual tradition.

Related terms

Ontological Argument: The ontological argument is a philosophical proof for the existence of God that Anselm developed, which attempts to deduce the existence of God from the very concept of God as the greatest being imaginable.

Cosmological Argument: The cosmological argument is a different philosophical proof for the existence of God that argues that the universe must have a first cause, which is identified as God.

Scholasticism: Scholasticism was a medieval system of philosophy and theology that Anselm's work was a part of, which emphasized the use of reason and logic to understand religious doctrines.