Anselm of Canterbury

A course, last taught in the Fall of 2010, devoted entirely to St. Anselm of Canterbury. The course discusses not only Anselm's famous "ontological argument" and other arguments for the existence of God, but also his views on truth, free choice, moral psychology, logic, time and modality, as well as theological topics like original sin, the Trinity, the Incarnation, virgin birth and redemption. There are two files associated with this course: (1) A complete set of lecture notes, and (2) a full set of handouts distributed throughout the course

Tolkkua Anselmin kirjekokoelmiin

Arvosteltu teos: The letter collections of Anselm of Canterbury / Samu Niskanen. Turnhout : Brepols, 2011

Incorporating Philosophy, Theology, and the History of Mathematics in an Introduction to Proof Course

In this article I describe a project activity for an undergraduate introduction to proof course aimed at mathematics and computer science majors that combines logic and philosophy with a significant dimension of writing. Pedagogically, the project involves a broader range of critical thinking skills than is usual in such courses. Undergraduate students analyze Anselm of Canterbury\u27s and Kurt Gödel\u27s proofs of the existence of God using modal logic

Penuria nominum and language rectitudo. Linguistic economy in Saint Anselm of Canterbury

The topics of language and dialectic argumentation have a pivotal role in Anselm’s thought. They constitute the theoretical context in which we proceeded with a semantic analysis of the term paupertas; it should be understood under a thought where logical-linguistic terms (appellatio, cogitatio vocum e rerum, significatio) are related to ethical and social principles as monastic silence and rectitudo, in particular. Indeed, Anselmian idea of poverty moves on the ridge between the paupertas as penuria nominum, typical of the human language merely capable of producing voces for the usus loquendi, and the Divine Word (Verbum), a “poor” word, where “poor” means unique, simple, pure and real. The Verbum will be, at the same time, a linguistic and ethical model for the human language to avoid the multiloquium and to properly connect words and things. Reduced to a line that directly moves from the word to his corresponding thing, the linguistic signification thins all his redundant references and becomes right, that is simple. This kind of language aims at the monastic silence of chapter six of the Regula Sancti Benedicti as his higher and very true form. So, the paupertas has to be intended, in the Anselmian philosophy of language, as a value against the mundane poverty of spirit, in the broader context of the Salvation of the soul’s economy

Dowody na istnienie Boga

The increased interest in arguments for the existence of God appeared in the XI century, with the development of the dialectic. One of the most famous ontological proof is a proof of Anselm of Canterbury – to prove the existence of God by going out only with HIS idea. In the XIII century, the ontological argument has lost its importance to the „five ways” of the Saint Thomas Aquinas, inspired by Aristotle and based on experience.The increased interest in arguments for the existence of God appeared in the XI century, with the development of the dialectic. One of the most famous ontological proof is a proof of Anselm of Canterbury – to prove the existence of God by going out only with HIS idea. In the XIII century, the ontological argument has lost its importance to the „five ways” of the Saint Thomas Aquinas, inspired by Aristotle and based on experience