Deane, Sidney Norton, trans., Cur Deus Homo (Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Company, 1926). View Source Online

Text name(s): Cur Deus Homo; Why God Became a Man

Number of pages of primary source text: 0

Medieval Author(s): Anselm of Canterbury

Dates: 1097 - 1103

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: English translation.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): England; Italy;

County/Region:

Apparatus: Index Appendices Bibliography Introduction

Comments:

St. Anselm of Canterbury was born in Italy in 1033. He served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 until his death in 1109 and is associated with modern scholasticism. He is also notable for his open opposition to the Crusades and for his frequent altercations with the English kings. This book was begun in England and finished while the saint was in exile in Capra. It is divided into two books. The first contains the objections of infidels to the Christian faith and the response of believers to their criticism. The second book is designed to show “that every man should enjoy a happy immortality” but that salvation could not be achieved unless God assumed human form. Anselm sought to prove, thereby, that Christ was the key to humankind’s salvation. The text of this edition is also available through wikisources (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cur_Deus_Homo), but all wiki texts can be edited by casual readers, that version should be used as a last resort. For a more reliable translation see: Jasper Hopkins and Herbert Richardson eds., Anslem of Canterbury, Volume Three (Toronto, 1976).

Introduction Summary:

The introduction summarizes Anselm’s philosophy and summarizes criticisms of it from assorted philosophers including Descartes, Locke, Kant, Hegel and Spinoza.

Cataloger: SES