The Unity of the Proslogion
Reason and Desire in the Monastic Theology of Anselm of Canterbury
Published on 23. September 2021
Book
Hardback
384 pages
978-90-04-47049-1 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
"By seeing Anselm's theology as wholly of a piece with his monastic way of life, this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of Anselm's thought, and establishes in a new way the perennial significance of St. Anselm for the Christian intellectual tradition".Bruce D. Marshall, Lehman Professor of Christian Doctrine, Southern Methodist University
'"Another book on Anselm's famous argument?" Yes, but Fr John Bayer offers something new: a holistic interpretation of the Proslogion which overcomes the temptation of approaching the argument either as a piece of strict logic or as a meditative prayer. It is both, for reason properly conceived forms part of the existential commitments of a seeking and desiring person. Bayer's interpretation is holistic in a second sense too: it places the unum argumentum within the whole of the Proslogion, and the Proslogion within Anselm's larger opus. A fine piece of thinking and scholarship".
Philipp W. Rosemann, The National University of Ireland (Maynooth)
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
680 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-47049-1 (9789004470491)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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.
Content
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
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