Anselm of Canterbury: Monologion, Proslogion, Dialogue with Gaunilo and A Meditation on Human Redemption

by Anselm of Canterbury

Students of Anselm labour under considerable disadvantages. There is no one book which gathers together the 1 major texts in English, and some of the existing translations of Anselm's works are either in clumsy English, predate the modern critical edition of the Latin texts or even contain serious errors which distort the argument. For some time a modern critical edition which collects together all the treatises of Anselm has been badly needed. The present volume is planned as the first of a series of three which will make available translations of the complete treatises of Anselm. The text is based on modern critical editions of the original Latin and is in clear and intelligible English with a short preface and explanatory footnotes. It will be welcomed by teachers and students engaged in studying the works of one of the greatest of medieval theologians.

174 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2013

About the author

Italian-born English monk, abbot, theologian, Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor of the Church. Helped inaugurate scholasticism in the medieval period, being credited as the "father of scholasticism", and became known for what became known as the "ontological argument" for the existence of God.

He entered the Benedictine order at the abbey of Bec at the age of 27 years in 1060 and served as abbot in 1079.

Anselm of Canterbury, also known as Anselm of Aosta or Anselm of Bec, was a monk and abbot at the Benedictine abbey of Bec. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury under William II from 1093 to his death on 1109.

As a result of the investiture controversy, the most significant conflict between Church and state in Medieval Europe, Henry I again from 1105 exiled him to 1107.

A bull of Clement XI, pope, proclaimed Anselm a doctor of the Church in 1720 . We celebrate his feast day annually on 21 April.

Reviews

[Scott Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Oxford edition but wanted to count as finished book from collected essays as I will not return until Theo II on the incarnation.

Absolutely beautiful ontological argument for the existence of God through reason alone followed by pure devotional theology that I will return to many times.

[Ray LaManna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read only the Proslogion from this book. This is the first rational explanation for the existence of God and written almost 1000 years ago, from the perspective of one who already believes. You must read Anselm's argument very carefully with deep concentration but in the end you will be rewarded.