History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 204 - A Canterbury Tale - Anselm's Life and Works
Dec 28, 2014
Exploring the life and influence of Anselm of Canterbury, his background and appointment as Archbishop, his contributions to medieval thought, his rationalist project, and his concept of truth in human will.
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Cat Flap Joke Sets Up Anselm
- Peter Adamson recounts Dirk Gently joking that Newton invented the cat flap to show genius can be obvious in hindsight.
- He uses this story to introduce Anselm's fame for the ontological argument and other overlooked achievements.
Monastic Thinker In Political Strife
- Anselm prepared the way for 12th-century scholasticism while entangled in church-state conflicts as Archbishop of Canterbury.
- He combined monastic intellectual life with reluctant political engagement and extensive philosophical writing.
Resistance At Investiture Ceremony
- Adamson relates that Anselm physically resisted King William II when being invested as Archbishop, illustrating tensions over royal appointments.
- He later clashed with William II and Henry I, going to Rome and experiencing exile amid the investiture controversy.