THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANSELM’S LAST WORK. AN ARGUMENT FOR DE CONCORDIA
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANSELM’S LAST WORK. AN ARGUMENT FOR DE CONCORDIA

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I try to investigate why the commentators of Anselm's works have neglected his last treatise, De concordia praescientiae et praedestinationis et gratiae Dei cum libero arbitrio. Working on my doctoral project, the Romanian translation of this treatise, I found that the manner in which most of the commentators relate to De Concordia is rather superficial and dismissive. This unfortunate approach came first from some famous exegetes in the work of Anselm, such as Richard W. Southern and Gillian Evans, but again I have discovered a similar view in some recent papers from Thomas Ekenberg, and Eileen Sweeney. In this article I will try to understand the reasons for which De Concordia did not received a good reception as compared with other works by Anselm; but the ultimate task will be to provide an argument for the importance of this short anselmian treatise. My intention is not to render an exhaustive analysis of the work of Anselm, but to reassert the context of his last work in accordance with his way of thinking and previous treatises. In this respect, I will try to explain why I believe that the determining factor for the writing of De Concordia was Anselm's desire to clarify certain issues related to his conception of free will, issues that remain somewhat unresolved in his previous works. Understanding in this manner Anselmřs last endeavour, will help us to switch from the attention on the change in his style of writing to the depth of his theological and philosophical thinking.

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