The Unity of the Proslogion

Reason and Desire in the Monastic Theology of Anselm of Canterbury
Erscheinungsjahr 2021
ISBN: 978-90-04-47049-1
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 4, 370 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 680 g

Reihe: Anselm Studies and Texts

Interpretations of Anselm’s Proslogion range between the extremes of ‘rationalism’ and ‘fideism’ because of the challenge of unifying its philosophical and devotional aspects. In this book, Bayer argues that a ‘monastic interpretation’ – or an interpretation that takes seriously the intellectual significance of our existential commitments – offers a powerful compromise.

Through an extensive study of Anselm’s spiritualty, especially as it is manifested in his letters and homiletic works, coupled with a profound study of Anselm’s philosophy of language in the De grammatico and Monologion, Bayer aims to reveal the Anselmian unity of life and thought, and thereby also the harmony between faith and reason. In this way, he defends the Proslogion as a unified and probative argument.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bayer, John

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Geschichte der Theologie, Einzelne Theologen
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsgeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Abbreviations

Introduction

1 The Father of Scholasticism? Reading Anselm as a Monk

1 Anselm between Scholasticism and Monasticism

2 Reading Anselm as a Monk

2 Quaerere Deum: Anselm on Monastic Life and Thought

1 The Relevance of Spirituality

2 Anselmian Spirituality

3 Anselmian Reason

4 Conclusion: Reason and the Search for God

3 Quaerere Veritatem: Logic, Language and Experience

1 Introduction: Quaerere Veritatem

2 Logic, Language and Experience in the De grammatico

3 Logic, Language and Experience in the Monologion

4 Conclusion: Subjective Reason and the Search for Truth

4 The Mind at Prayer

1 The Language of the Heart

2 The Horizon of Reason: Chapters 1, 14-18 and 24-26

3 Proving God in the Proslogion

4 Conclusion: Contemplating God in the Proslogion

Appendix: Ratio in the Monologion

1 Ratio as ‘Argument’ or ‘Reasoning’ (31)

2 Ratio as ‘Intelligibility’ or ‘Meaning’ (10)

3 Ratio as ‘Formal Logic’ or ‘Objective Reason’ or ‘Analysis’ (29)

4 Ratio as ‘Subjective Reason’ or ‘Intellect’ (the Integral Faculty Responsible for the Apprehension of Form) (53)

5 Ratio as ‘Divine Mind’ or ‘Cosmic Order’ (the Divine Rationality Grounding the Intelligibility of Existence) (9)

Bibliography

Index of Authors

Über Autor(innen)

Fr. John Bayer. O. Cist, Ph.D. (2019), Pontifical Gregorian University, teaches at Cistercian Preparatory School and the University of Dallas. In 2007, he entered Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Abbey. His research interests include fundamental theology, the relationship between faith and science, and monasticism.