Anselmian Approach to God and Creation

Contemporary philosophers of religion frequently cite the medievals with approval. The school of analytic philosophers who aim to unpack the notion of a perfect being even label their method 'Anselmian'. Often, though, contemporary philosophers misunderstand or even ignore key aspects of the medieval system of religious philosophy, the upshot being that contemporary criticisms and even defenses often miss the mark. In this series of essays, the author sets out the traditional views on certain questions in the philosophy of religion, and to defend these views in the contemporary idiom. Some essays deal with doctrines like divine simplicity and eternity which are frequently rejected today, but which were held almost universally by medieval philosophers in the latin west. Many concentrate on the work of St. Anselm (including a long and daring piece on his idealism).