The reception of Saint Anselm’s logic in the 20th and 21st centuries

St. Anselm of Canterbury’s place in both the history of philosophy and the history of theology is firmly recognized, but his place in the history of logic is often overlooked. We argue that this is primarily the result of four factors: (1) the primary propagator of Anselm’s logical works in the 20th century, D.P. Henry, used a system of logic unfamiliar and objectionable to most mainstream logicians, Leśniewski’s Ontology; (2) a narrow view of logic in the middle of the 20th century which would preclude Anselm’s writings, which are often heavily and inextricably steeped in philosophy, particularly metaphysics; (3) the lack of significant influence of Anselm’s ideas on later medieval logicians; and (4) the effect of “ontological” argument on the reception of Anselm’s other logical works.