Reason, Community and Religious Tradition—Anselm's Argument and the Friars

Matthews (U. of Stirling, UK) presents a historical and philosophical examination of the reception and manipulation of Anselm's "ontological" argument for the existence of God within the schools of contemporary Franciscan and Dominican friars and in the public atmosphere of the universities of the 13th century. He argues that philosophical argument served not to provide rational foundations for religious belief, but to open up the space within shared religious doctrines where competing assumptions could receive articulation. It is important to realize the implications of this argument for the very nature of reason itself. Matthews suggests that the uses of Anselm's arguments in different contexts show that the very understanding of the nature of reason and rationality is conditioned by discourse that is itself historical and conditional. The different roles played by Anselm's argument within the monasteries, as compared to its use in today's analytic philosophy demonstrates that understanding Anselm without assessing him in the context of interests, background pictures, beliefs, and commitments. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)