Changes

Saint Anselm (1033-1109), born in northern [[Italy]], was an early intellectual giant of [[scholasticism]].  The period from the late 1000s to about 1300 is known as the "High Middle Ages," partly due to this intellectual activity known as scholasticism and also due to great population growth.   

Saint Anselm (1033-1109), born in northern [[Italy]], was an early intellectual giant of [[scholasticism]].  The period from the late 1000s to about 1300 is known as the "High Middle Ages," partly due to this intellectual activity and also due to great population growth.   

Scholasticism strengthened understanding of Christian doctrine through careful definition and systematic argument. St. Anselm preferred to defend [[Christianity]] through use of powerful logical arguments, rather than relying entirely and solely on scripture. St. Anselm is famous for the first "[[ontological]]" argument, which is an argument attempting to prove the existence of [[God]] by reasoning from the definition of [[God]].   

Scholasticism strengthened understanding of Christian doctrine through careful definition and systematic argument. St. Anselm preferred to defend [[Christianity]] through use of strong logical arguments, rather than relying solely on scripture. St. Anselm is famous for the first formal presentation of the [[ontological argument]], which is a [[fundamentally flawed]] argument attempting to prove the existence of [[God]] by arguing from its definition.   

St. Anselm was a brilliant [[Latin]] scholar who became a [[Benedictine]] monk to the disappointment of his father, who wanted him to enter politics. After St. Anselm became a monk, he "proved" the existence of [[God]] as follows. Everyone, even a fool, can conceive of a variation in perfection of a being. In other words, some beings are more perfect than others with respect to justice, wisdom or power.  Because there is a variation, there must be a being that is most perfect.  But "existence" is an attribute of perfection:  it is more perfect to exist than not to exist.  Therefore the most perfect being must also exist.  Therefore [[God]], defined as the most perfect being conceivable, must exist.

St. Anselm was a [[Latin]] scholar who became a [[Benedictine]] monk, much to the disappointment of his father, who wanted him to enter politics. In this way his early life is remarkably similar to that of [[Aquinas]]. However, the two severely disagreed on the best method for proving God's existence. Aquinas found Anselm's ontological argument flawed and cold, while Anselm found Aquinas' [[cosmological argument]]s and [[teleological argument]]s weak and unconvincing.

St.Anselm also had a tremendous logical argument for why [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] must exist. In the [[feudalism]] of Anselm’s day, the severity of a crime and amount of satisfaction required of the offender varied depending on who the victim was.  Someone who committed a crime against the king would require more satisfaction or payment by the criminal after he was caught than a similar crime against a peasant.  Similar rules exist today, where a crime against the president is far more serious than a similar crime against an ordinary citizen. St. Anselm wrote a paper entitled "[[Cur Deus homo]]?" ("Why Did God Become Man?"), in which he explained that finite man could never satisfy a crime or sin against the infinite [[God]].  Only an infinite man (Christ) could provide full satisfaction because the victim of the crime or sin was the infinite [[God]].  Hence the existence of Christ is essential.

St. Anselm also presented an argument for why [[Jesus Christ]] must have existed. Under the [[feudalism|feudal]] system of Anselm’s day, the severity of a crime and amount of satisfaction required of the offender varied depending on the status of the victim.  Someone who committed a crime against the king would deserve a far more severe punishment than someone who committed a crime against a peasant. St. Anselm wrote a paper entitled "[[Cur Deus homo]]?" ("Why Did God Become Man?"), in which he argued that 'finite' man could never satisfy a crime or sin against the 'infinite' [[God]].  Only an 'infinite' man could provide full satisfaction because the victim of the crime or sin was the 'infinite' [[God]].  Hence, assuming the universal validity of feudal system, and assuming the existence of an ontological system to enforce this feudal system on Man, an 'infinite' man is essential. Anselm argued that this man was [[Jesus Christ]].

St. Anselm was appointed the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[England]], which he accepted reluctantly.  He became determined to reform the English [[Catholic Church]] and he fought against efforts by the King of [[England]] to control or interfere with the Church.  At one point Anselm presented his grievances against [[William II|King William]] to [[Pope Urban II]].  These conflicts were precursors to a huge dispute between a pope and English king centuries later, which caused the king to form his own church and split from Roman authority.

St. Anselm was appointed the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[England]], which he accepted reluctantly.  He became determined to reform the English [[Catholic Church]] and he fought against efforts by the King of [[England]] to control or interfere with the Church.  At one point Anselm presented his grievances against [[William II|King William]] to [[Pope Urban II]].  These conflicts were precursors to a huge dispute between a pope and English king centuries later, which caused the king to form his own church and split from Roman authority.