Adolf Hitler As A Leader Of Nazi Germany - 1640 Words

Adolf Hitler is known throughout the world as being the leader of Nazi Germany in the early twentieth century, and ultimately the instigator for World War II. His actions have faced much scrutiny since the conflict was resolved, but the genius behind this war effort is seeded in the politics of his egregious nature. Early Life and Upbringing Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, at Braunau-am-Inn, Austria. Alois,his father, had risen from a poor peasant background to become an Austrian customs official and was able to provide his son with a secondary school education. Adolf, a bright and talented student at his village school, felt out of place in the much larger urban secondary school. He gave himself up to aimless reading, dreamed about becoming an artist, and developed a talent for evading responsibilities. Poor school marks prevented him from obtaining a diploma and after the death of his father, he left his home in Linz, Upper Austria, in 1907 to seek his fortune in Vienna. Hitler s professed aim in Vienna was to study art, especially architecture, but he twice failed, in 1907 and 1908, to get admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts. These failures destroyed what little order he had established in his life. He withdrew completely from family and friends and wandered aimlessly through the city, observing its life. Though he continued to read voraciously, he derived most of his knowledge from secondhand sources, coffeehouse talk, newspapers,and pamphlets. He encounteredShow MoreRelatedAdolf Hitler As A Leader Of The Nazi Germany1398 Words   |  6 PagesAdolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Germany party from 1934 to 1945. During his time of leadership, he initiated fascist policies that ultimately led to World War II. What he is most infamous for the horrendous acts he committed against the Jewish people in Germany as well as other groups of people, such as gypsies, the handicapped, homosexuals, and many others. While Hitler is most known for the genocid e he committed, he is also recognized by many historians as a powerful and effective leaderRead MoreAdolf Hitler As A Leader Of Nazi Germany1677 Words   |  7 PagesAdolf Hitler once said â€Å"It is more difficult to fight against faith than against knowledge† (â€Å"30 Eye Catching Hitler Quotes.). In a dictatorship there is one ruler who is in charge of everything in the nation in which he/she rules. Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau am Inn. Hitler also known as Fà ¼hrer; he was chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and served as dictator from 1934 to 1945. Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany, he was one of the initial causes which triggeredRead MoreEssay on Adolf Hitler927 Words   |  4 PagesAdolf Hitler Adolf Hitler, to some, was a great ruler, but to others he was a murderer. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party and was the dictator of Germany. He ordered to have millions of Jews murdered or thrown in prisons. Adolf Hitler was born April 20, 1889, in a small town in Australia called Branuan. His dads name was Alios Hitler and was a customs official. He was 51 years old when Adolf was born. Klara Polz, Adolfs mother, was a farm girl and was 28 when Adolf was bornRead MoreAdolf Hitler As A Post Christ1349 Words   |  6 Pagessometimes refer to Adolf Hitler as a post-Christ Nero because of Hitler s ruthless attitudes and actions towards innocent citizens, similar to Nero when he persecuted Christians during his rule about two thousand years prior(Kershaw). Hitler dealt with a depressing childhood, which included the deaths of his parents and the inability to pursue his dreams as an artist(Knapp). Thereafter, Hitler became interested in politics, as he eventually joined the Small German Workers party(Nazis) and won the faithRead MoreAdolf Hitler And The Barbaric Acts Of Prejudice1134 Words   |  5 PagesAdolf Hitler is most commonly known for the unforgivable acts of prejudice he comm itted throughout the course of his life. His abysmal actions left a scar on the world that could never be healed. However, Hitler possessed extreme intelligence and vocational skills. Although innovative and bright, he became corrupt as he turned against non-Aryans. His dream of pursuing his desire to be an artist slowly drifted from his mind as visions of a pure bred mother Germany came into focus. Hitler’s significantRead MoreThe Rise Of Adolf Hitler1457 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many world leaders in different countries and regions on earth who play a significant role in societies. Their role is significant because they have derived their power from their own birthright or from the people who have elected them. The rise of Dictator Adolf Hitler to supreme power in Nazi Germany would prove to be an event in history that was totally inexplicable in any terms. He was an adventurer who desired to conquer the German people and dominate the entire world, reshaping itRead M oreAdolf Hitler Was A Bad Man827 Words   |  4 PagesMarch 21, 2017 Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler was a bad man who did many bad things in his lifetime. He was responsible for the Holocaust and for World War II. Who was Adolf Hitler? What motivated him as dictator of Germany? What did he do in the course of his lifetime? Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th, 1889. He was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, of German descent (Hitler). Hitler s father s original name was Schicklgruber but he changed it in 1876 to Hitler (Adolf). Hitler had three sistersRead MoreHitler s Impact On The World War II1636 Words   |  7 Pagesa square, saluting and chanting Hitler s name. World War II has begun and many Germans hope for improvements in the economy. Their leader is Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany in World War II, was a powerful speaker who caused over 5 million deaths in concentration camps. Though Hitler s impact can be felt in modern times, the roots of his atrocious behavior began at childhood—more specifically—high school. Years before Adolf Hitler was born, Hitler s great grandfather, Johann GeorgRead MoreWhy Adolf Hitler Was A Great Leader1200 Words   |  5 Pages31 March 2015 Why Adolf Hitler Was A Great Leader. Can you really call a Murderer a Great Leader? A â€Å"Great Leader† Can be define as a leader who is self aware, self direct, socially aware, visionary, and having the ability to motivate one. Adolf Hitler is self aware, self direct, socially aware, visionary, and having the ability to motivate. From what we know for being a Great Leader we can say Adolf Hitler was a Great Leader. I believe that Hitler was a indeed a â€Å"Great Leader†. Although some believeRead MoreHitler, Stepping Into The Light. . Hitler, Racist And Murderer?1102 Words   |  5 PagesHitler, stepping into the light. Hitler, racist and murderer? Leader and visionary? Or both? Cassi-Dee Muller reports. Adolf Hitler, known for his rise to power, his revolutionary dictatorship and his starting of a world war. But was he simply a bad man with a negative impact on the world? Or was he just being an excellent leader? Born in Austria 1889, Hitler was an average young German until his adult life, where he achieved the position as the leader of the Nazi party. As a Nazi, he believed

The Grading System Is Bad - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 570 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/09/21 Category Teaching Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Stress Essay Student Essay Did you like this example? The Grading System is Bad by Kok Hiew Lam of AL2 Students who get A’s, couldn’t apply the knowledge and yet, on paper still look more educated than the student who earned failing grades and even if the student could apply the knowledge. Generally speaking, grades do not accurately indicate how much a student has learned in a class. Assessments too should be based on real world application of the knowledge and skills, rather than how well students can memorize information and answer questions on a test. Ways to demonstrate knowledge gained is by grades. On paper this seems to be an awesome idea to be able to put an exact symbol to demonstrate a students development. But does the grading system help our students? No, as there are several reasons why the grading system should be eliminated. The grading system does very little now, but creates competition, stress, and loss of innocence. This is because when students are graded, students tend to compare among thei r friends. Weak students get depressed when being reprimanded by their teachers. On the other hand, stronger students are at constant pressure to strive even harder although they are no longer capable, just to impress those around them. Students are also a victim by parents whom often forget that all children have the different capabilities, they push their children off the limits thus causes children to be stressed out just to meet their parent’s requirements. When students are stress, their self esteem is low. When this happens, it does NOT encourage the student to work hard but causes them to give up instead! Think twice, should the education authorities really enforce competition among children? In addition, the grading system does not encourage students to study for the pursuit of knowledge. By nature, most of us are curious and inquisitive. In school, we are educated out of that curiosity because the grading system focuses off the educational process, and only on the final grading result. With the emphasis purely on grades, students are encouraged to learn just for the sake of grades, are naturally less enthusiastic about the subject, and as a result are less interested in learning for the pursuit of knowledge. What is the aim of schooling if the emphasis is no longer on knowledge? Yes, all of us agree that the grading system encourages competition among students to compete with each other to strive as the â€Å"Top Student†. Hence, students are more motivated to study and strive for success. But without the grading system, a more relaxed environment would be created. Some students may lose motivation, but others might gain motivation. If rewards are implemented instead of symbols, students may find school easier and more enjoyable. Students who are more comfortable with their lives, learn more easily. By, eliminating a large source of stress such as competition, it will NOT only improve childrens education, BUT their lives. As a conclusion, if students are assessed on their proficiency or mastery of a subject, it is fairer. Like any tool, the grading system has its flaws and can be manipulated by the invigilators. These days, most companies don’t even care about grades as they are only interested in capabilities. Grades are overrated. Last but not least, if the emphasis was put on the aspect of trying our best, to learn our best, and be excited about learning, then education would improve. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Grading System Is Bad" essay for you Create order

Perception in the metamorphosis - 1256 Words

The role of perception in Gregor Samsas identity crisis (Question 2) Tabula Rasa- the theory that individuals are born without essence and are shaped by knowledge and perception- is quite dubious. To what extent does the fact that multiple perceptions of a human being exist affect their identity? German-language writer Franz Kafkas novella The Metamorphosis and one of its themes of the struggle to define ones identity answers some of these questions. Published in 1915, this story is a fictitious account of the protagonist, Gregor Samsas transformation into a gigantic bug and the series of events which occur as he and those around him attempt to adjust to this outrageous transmutation. Throughout the novella, we see Samsa†¦show more content†¦Gregors transformation starts to affect him mentally only once the familys horror at his new appearance was apparent. Their shock confirmed to him his animal identity, and their perception of him as a fearful creature started to affect his mindset. The point that Kafka stresses on consistently throug hout his novella is the familys utter disregard and lack of any appreciation towards Gregors endless contributions to their wellbeing. As Gregor toiled endlessly on a horrid job, his parents fuelled his dehumanisation by supporting his one-sided contributions to them. They perceived Gregor to be their only source of financial backing, and so he started to morph into a machine-like creature under their impression, over the years. For example, when the family becomes aware of Gregor being late, his father can only panic about Gregor having missed the early train. Such behaviour led to Gregors isolation over the years, adding to his mental transformation into the monstrous vermin which he became under his familys projections onto him and his continuous self sacrifice. Kafka emphasizes Gregors impressionable character when he says He (Gregor) was a tool....without brains or a backbone (Kafka 5). Following the metamorphosis, Gregors family attains a level of self sufficiency, as they at tempt to fend for themselves, leaving Gregor feeling purposeless. This gives an idea of how extensive a role perception played upon Gregors identity, as he becomes convincedShow MoreRelatedPerception Changes in Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Essay example851 Words   |  4 Pageschanges appear and disappear, impacting our lives. Humans perceive change differently and it reveals the true nature of our heart. It is due to the dissension of change between humans that determines the differences in our individual perceptions. In the novel, â€Å" Metamorphosis† by Franz Kafka, the word change is taken to a entirely absurd degree as the main protagonist, Gregor Samsa is illogically transformed into a bug. Although Gregor’s thoughts still shown traces of his human self, Gregor’s family isRead MoreEssay about The Truth of Perception in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka1078 Words   |  5 Pagesourselves. The world does not see eye to eye to what we see. In The Metamorph osis written by Franz Kafka, the protagonist Gregor Samsa, over the course of one night, suddenly transformed into a â€Å"monstrous vermin.† Gregor is now physically separated by his family who can only perceive him as his bug-like structure, which results in the disintegration of his emotional turmoil and ultimately death. The exposition of The Metamorphosis beings with a small little room that is symmetrical in every mannerRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 989 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Freedman’s critical essay titled â€Å"Kafka’s Obscurity† on Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis delves into the idea that from changes in the protagonist’s physical limitations, familial bonds, and his being â€Å"[he] is finally reduced to a mere speck of self-awareness which is ultimately extinguished† (Freedman 131). General questions of â€Å"why† and â€Å"how† are almost immediately dismissed due to the calm and monotonous tone that Kafka implements throughout the novel. Instead, the reader is encouraged toRead MoreMetamorphosis by Frank Kafka875 Words   |  4 PagesFrank Kafka’s short story Metamorphosis involves an element of horror derived from the unchallenged acceptance provided by everyone, including Gregor himself to his transfor mation into a vermin- cockroach. Kafka, renowned for his surrealism, tries to create a universe where a seemingly unrealistic reality containing chaos, corruption and immorality, is in fact reality, and an actually consistent perception of the truly horrid nature of human existence under the influence of society. Set against theRead MoreThe Existential Isolation And Biopsychological Change1519 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of the Existential Isolation and Biopsychological Change in The Metamorphosis and â€Å"Letter to my Father† by Franz Kafka and Unwelcome Visitors† by Tessa Farmer This literary and art analysis will define the correlation between the writings of Kafka and the installation art of Tessa Farmer’s in relation to the themes of existential isolation and biopsychological change. Gregor’s anxiety in The Metamorphosis is partially due to the alienation of society, which cases an existential periodRead MoreThe True Metamorphosis.. Franz Kafka Owns A Part Of The1448 Words   |  6 PagesThe True Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka owns a part of the human emotional spectrum, which the world can now call the Kafkaesque, a term for someone who exhibits nightmarish qualities of Kafka’s fictional world (Franz Kafka). Kafka’s twisted world is in no way pleasant, very Kafkaesque. It feels like a nightmare, and yet it is a place where many people, if only for a moment, will end up. Kafka’s most appreciated piece of literature, â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† creates an extension of Kafka’s life throughRead MorePersonal Experiences Reflected in Metamorphosis by Gregor Samsa1061 Words   |  5 Pages Topic 2 Writing, like other forms of art, draws upon an artist’s inspirations. Either subtly or overtly, an artist’s interactions and perception of the world influences their piece. Franz Kafka, born into a Jewish family in Prague, incorporated many of his life experiences into his work The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis presents many connections between the life of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, and Kafka himself. Some literary analysts claim it serves as an outlet for his distraught lifeRead MoreEffects of Loneliness and Isolation in the Short Stories â€Å"Metamorphosis† and â€Å"the Yellow Wallpaper†1512 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of loneliness and isolation in the short stories â€Å"Metamorphosis† and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† In Franz Kafka’s â€Å"Metamorphosis† and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† the reader can easily see demonstrated the effects of the alienation and loneliness both of the main characters experience. The feeling of loneliness and the state of alienation leave the characters changed from who they were and manages to completelyRead MoreMetamorphosis, By Franz Kafka1335 Words   |  6 PagesSociety can be cruel to people who do not fit in and art can help to break the pain. Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, is a reflection of his unsettled relationship with his family and society. Franz Kafka creates a hideous creature, a monstrous insect, to show how he feels in his reality. Gregor, in Metamorphosis, is a tool for Kafka to psychoanalyze his perceived deficiency in society and communicate his contemplations on his meaning in life. Franz Kafka s estrangement from his family and societyRead MoreReview Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 958 Words   |  4 PagesThere are several aspects about the writing of Franz Kafka that make it enticing to the reader and tantalizing enough to keep the reader intrigued. The narrative that I find most intriguing by Kafka is The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis is a tale wherein Kafka essentially gives his perception of the story of his life through the use of storytelling devices, which without the use of them would have made it a less interesting tale. Franz Kafka was born on July 3rd, 1883. Kafka was a German writer

The Decay Of Friendship By Samuel Johnson - 974 Words

In the dissertation, â€Å"The Decay of Friendship,† Samuel Johnson emphasizes that even though friendship has the potential to bring immeasurable pleasure to people; it isn’t a certainty in life and in the majority of cases, friendships end for simple reasons. Johnson proceeds to decipher a few of the motives behind the corrosion of friendship: intermission, opposition of interests, disputes, in addition to suspicion. He therefore enables the common-man to understand how to avoid letting a friendship eventually expire. Living in the 18th century, Johnson observed and maybe even experienced breakdowns of friendship. In the first paragraph of his essay, he describes friendship as having pleasure that is unmatched in society, so losing a friendship or seeing a person lose a friendship probably caused him to call attention to the sources. I believe that Johnson anticipated an intermediate response, because he simply called attention to the problems that can break down a fr iendship and listed the common ways that friendships can die. Johnson’s purpose in writing this essay is to call attention to the problems that can break a friendship apart, such as gradual decay, suspicion, disputes, and opposing interests. By exposing these topics, he can ensure that genuine friendships not only last longer, but are also widespread. In his essay, Johnson is calling attention to the ways that friendships can become unbridled. He utilizes advanced diction, emotional appeals, figurative language,Show MoreRelatedpreschool Essay46149 Words   |  185 PagesConnecticut Nancy Ng, Luna Kids Dance Physical Development David Gallahue, Indiana University Clersida Garcia, Northern Illinois University Patricia Kimbrell, San Diego State University Rebecca Lytle, California State University, Chico Robyn Wu, Samuel Merritt University Laura Vidal-Prudholme, Saddleback College Health Abbey Alkon, University of California, San Francisco Jyu-Lin Chen, University of California, San Francisco Charlotte Hendricks, Healthy Childcare Consultants, Inc. VictoriaRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pageswish to thank John D. Kammeyer-Mueller of the University of Florida for help with several key aspects of this revision. The authors would also like to extend their sincerest thanks to the following instructors: Lee Boam, University of Utah Andres Johnson, Santa Clara University Edward Lisoski, Northeastern University Douglas Mahony, Lehigh University Douglas McCabe, Georgetown University Bradley Norris, Baylor University Jonelle Roth, Michigan State University Philip Roth, Clemson University DaleRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 PagesHelbriegel, J. S. Slocum, and R. W. Woodman, Organizational Behavior (St. Paul, MN: West, 1986), 22. 22. Chimezie A. B. Osigweh, Professional Management: An Evolutionary Perspective (Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 1985), 160. 40    Introduction 23. Samuel C. Certo, Modern Management, 5th ed. (Boston: Allyn Bacon, 1992), 48. 24. Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization (New York: Doubleday/Currency, 1990). 25. Sue R. Faerman, â€Å"Organizational Change andRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesfor Refugees, The State of the World’s Refugees: Human Displacement in the New Millennium (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006). 69. Virginie Guiraudon, and Christian Joppke, eds., Controlling a New Migration World (London: Routledge, 2001); Samuel Huntington, Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004); David Jacobson, Rights across Borders: Immigration and the Decline of Citizenship (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996);Read MoreEssay on Fall of Asclepius95354 Words   |  382 Pageswhen every teacher at his school told him to blindly commit to some random college. What help does that do when he doesnt even know what he wanted to with his life? He just wanted them all to shut the hell up. Ahead, Thomas could see his school: Samuel Francis Catholic Secondary School. It was a nice school with good classes. The school itself had two floors and held over nine hundred students. Funny enough, many of them are not even Catholic. Most of Thomas friends were Atheists, Hindus or Buddhists

Thoughtful Opinions free essay sample

This essay was written for a college honors application which asked the student to reflect on JFK’s quote: â€Å"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.† In our Western culture, where individualism is valued and the ability to make one’s own decisions is stressed, John F. Kennedy’s quote, â€Å"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought,† reveals an unpleasant truth about the beliefs and opinions we like to call our own. The quote describes the carelessness with which we often take on new opinions. Much of what we know and believe has been taught to us by others, and we often accept this information without spending much time thinking it over for ourselves. A distinction must be made between the sharing of developed and proven knowledge and the sharing of beliefs and ideas which may differ among cultures, generations, and individuals. We will write a custom essay sample on Thoughtful Opinions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Collective learning – our ability to learn from the successes and failures of others – saves us a great deal of time and effort. Without inherited knowledge, each person would have to figure out for themselves, for example, what kinds of foods are edible, what two plus two equals, how to construct a shelter that stands up. We know these things already, thanks to those who figured them out for us long ago. We can instead add to that knowledge, and have chefs, spaceships, and high-rise buildings. Progress can be made. However, there is a darker side to this inheritance as well. What if our sources of knowledge – traditional or contemporary – are wrong or their ideas are no longer appropriate for our time? If we do not constantly contemplate and reassess our deeply held beliefs, there is no way forward. If people did not think about whether it was right for women to be treated as inferior to men – a belief that had been passed down for generations – we would not have had a women’s movement or a population that believes in equal rights for all. In today’s world, we are constantly being presented with information, ideas, and beliefs that often contradict each other. Psychology tells us that if we hear an idea enough times, or if it comes from someone we respect or view as an authority, we will likely believe that idea. In these cases, we base our opinions on the opinions of others. We don’t bother thinking for ourselves; we just believe. This is exactly what JFK was trying to tell us. If individuals don’t consciously think about the information they are presented with, we become nothing more than parrots quoting the opinions of someone who in turn, parroted them to us. I often find myself guilty of this. In the middle of a conversation, I’ll find myself nodding along with whatever my friend is saying. Yet later, when thinking it over for myself, I realize I have a different opinion. Figuring this out after the conversation is over is extremely frustrating. I have come up with my real opinion too late to engage in the conversation, and I am disappointed in myself for mindlessly agreeing with what was being said. As I know from first-hand experience, trying to think through all the opinions being shared as you hear them is hard, as is having the confidence to speak up when you disagree.But it is only by forming our own opinions and sharing them, that we can we present our real selves, and help to advance the powers of truth and honesty. Today, there is a lot of drama and controversy surrounding the term â€Å"fake news.† One of the most influential factors in the spread of inaccurate stories are people who believe whatever they read and then share the story without thinking about the facts or investigating the source of the story – especially if the story is agreeable to them. All it takes is one quick click of the â€Å"share† button on Facebook, and the story travels on its way to influence even more unthinking readers. This can have serious consequences, as more and more people read the untrue stories, take on the story’s opinions as their own, and begin to act on these inaccuracies. If we just stop for a moment to think about what we read and hear and form our own opinions, we will be more thoughtful, intelligent, and creative people – but few take that time. Yet we need not despair over this unfortunate habit of ours. In fact, simply becoming aware of it is the first step toward correcting it. Awareness is a prelude to thinking, and once we become aware that we tend to take on and hold opinions and beliefs without thinking them through, we can change that pattern of behavior. We can learn to experience and appreciate the â€Å"discomfort of thought† and to find in our minds some strong opinions we can truly call our own.

anselm;s proslogion Essay Example For Students

anselm;s proslogion Essay Back to Medieval Source BookANSELM ON GODS EXISTENCEGods existence was to some extent obvious for medieval theologians. They simply knew he existed. Nevertheless, they attempted to prove his existence anyway, and the basic strategies employed by them are the ones used every since. Here two approaches are presented. The first, by Anselm, is perhaps the most puzzling. While it has not been all that popular with the average believer, it has fascinated philosophers, and even today there are respectable philosophers who accept it. Anselm himself is equally fascinating, since he combined the seemingly disparate roles of saint, ecclesiastical leader, and major philosopher. He was born in 1033 near Aosta, which is now in Italy. At the age of twenty-three he quarreled with his father and began a period of wandering through France on what seems to have resembled an educational grand tour. After trying the schools at Fleury-sur-Loire and Chartres, he arrived at the Benedictine abbey of Bec, which was enjoying an excellent reputation thanks to Lanfranc, who served as both prior and master of its school. Anselm entered the abbey as a novice in 1060 and rapidly rose to eminence. When Lanfranc moved to the new monastery founded at Caen in 1063 by William, the Duke of Normandy, Anselm became prior at Bec, a position he held until he became abbot in 1078. By that time William the Duke had become William the Conqueror and was in the process of reorganizing England. He had brought Lanfranc over as Archbishop of Canterbury, and when Lanfranc died William Rufus, who had succeeded William the Conqueror as king of England, imported Anselm to be the new archbishop. Anselm arrived in 1093 and almost from the moment he touched English soil he was fighting with William to gain ecclesiastical freedom from royal control. By 1097 he was conducting the battle from exile, and was allowed to return only in 1100, when William Rufus was succeeded by Henry I. He got along no better with Henry, however, and in 1103 was back in exile, returning only in 1107 when the stubborn king and equally stubborn archbishop worked out a compromise that became the standard formula for settling church-state quarrels in the twelfth century. Anselm died in 1109. If Anselm was sure of himself in ecclesiastical politics, he was equally so in theology. His associate and biographer Eadmer gives a remarkably telling deathbed scene. It was Palm Sunday, and one of those clustered around Anselms bed remarked that it looked as if the archbishop would be celebrating Easter with God, Anselm replied, Well, if thats what God wants Ill gladly obey him, but if he prefers to let me stay here long enough to solve the problem of the origin of the soul (which Ive been thinking about a great deal lately) I would gratefully accept that opportunity, because I doubt if anyone else is going to solve it once Im gone. Something should be said about the intellectual climate in Anselms time. The main conflict in the eleventh century was between those who saw theology as little more than Bible commentary and those who felt that rational analysis and argument was needed. The first group argued that God was such a mystery, so intellectually inaccessible, that we could hope to talk about him at all only in the symbolic language he himself had graciously given us for that purpose. Nor could we expect to get beyond that language, to infer other truths from it by reason. Anselms writings place him securely in the second group. As he suggests at the beginning of the Proslogion, sin has so darkened our minds that we cannot hope to reach the truth unless God graciously leads us to it. He does so by offering us the truth through revelation and by inspiring us to accept that revelation in faith. Once we accept the truth on that basis, however, we can hope to reason out proofs for what we have already accepted t hrough faith. God is rational, and what he does is rational, and we ourselves are blessed with reason. Thus we should be able to discover the rationality of Gods actions, at least to some extent. We are like students who, unable to solve a mathematical problem, are given the answer to it and then discover they can reason out why that answer is correct. If later theologians found themselves uneasy with this approach, it was because they suspected that even the most brilliant student could not be expected to work out the problem quite as well as Anselm thought he had. In his other major work, the Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man), he offers an explanation for the Christs incarnation and crucifixion which essentially argues that God had to do it that way because it was the only logical course he could follow, given the divine attributes of omnipotence and justice. God had to redeem humankind or else the eternal purposes for this it had been created would have been thwarted and Gods omnipotence would have been compromised; yet humankind also had to be punished for the fall or else Gods justice would have been compromised. Anselms argument which explained the course of sacred history not only in broad outline but in excruciating detail made the whole thing very accessible to human reason, perhaps too accessible. Later theologians sus pected that the rationality was achieved by trapping God within the rational structures of the created world. In the final analysis God wasnt very much like us, and we couldnt explain his actions by assuming he had to follow the same rules we do. Abelard, writing somewhat later, suggested that the world was, after all, Gods creation and he could do as he pleased with it. If he wanted to forgive humankind, why couldnt he simply forgive it? PROSLOGIONChapter 1: Encouraging the Mind to Contemplate GodCome on now little man, get away from your worldly occupations for a while, escape from your tumultuous thoughts. Lay aside your burdensome cares and put off your laborious exertions. Give yourself over to God for a little while, and rest for a while in Him. Enter into the cell of your mind, shut out everything except God and whatever helps you to seek Him once the door is shut. Speak now, my heart, and say to God, I seek your face; your face, Lord, I seek.Come on then, my Lord God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here, where shall I find you? If, however, you are everywhere, why do I not see you here? But certainly you dwell in inaccessible light. And where is that inaccessible light? Or how do I reach it? Or who will lead me to it and into it, so that I can see you in it? And then by what signs, under what face shall I seek you? I have never seen you, my Lord God, or known your face. What shall I do, Highest Lord, what shall this exile do, banished far from you as he is? What should your servant do, desperate as he is for your love yet cast away from your face? He longs to see you, and yet your face is too far away from him. He wants to come to you, and yet your dwelling place is unreachable. He yearns to discover you, and he does not know where you are. He craves to seek you, and does not know how to recognize you. Lord, you are my Lord and my God, and I have never seen you. You have made me and nurtured me , given me every good thing I have ever received, and I still do not know you. I was created for the purpose of seeing you, and I still have not done the thing I was made to do. Oh, how miserable mans lot is when he has lost what he was made for! Oh how hard and dire was that downfall! Alas, what did he lose and what did he find? What was taken away and what remains? He has lost beatitude for which he was made, and he has found misery for which he was not made. That without which he cannot be happy has been taken away, and that remains which in itself can only make him miserable. Back then man ate the bread of angels for which he now hungers, and now he eats the bread of griefs which he did not even know back then. Alas for the common grief of man, the universal lamentation of Adams sons! He belched in his satiety, while we sigh in our want. He was rich, we are beggars. He happily possessed and miserably abandoned, we unhappily lack and miserably desire, yet alas, we remain empty. Why, since it would have been easy for him, did he not keep what we so disastrously lack? Why did he deprive us of light, and cover us with darkness instead? Why did he take life a way from us and inflict death instead? From what have we poor wretches been expelled, and toward what are we being driven? From what have we been cast down, in what buried? From our fatherland into exile, from the vision of God into blindness. From the happiness of immortality into the bitterness and horror of death. What a miserable transformation! From so much good into so much evil! A heavy injury, a heavy, heavy grief. I have come to you as a poor man to a rich one, as a poor rich to a merciful giver. May I not return empty and rejected! And if I sigh before I eat (Job 3:4), once I have sighed give me something to eat. Lord, turned in (incurvatus) as I am I can only look down, so raise me up so that I can look up. My iniquities heaped on my head cover me over and weigh me down like a heavy load (Ps. 37:5). Dig me out and set me free before the pit created by them shuts its jaws over me (Ps. 67:16).Let me see your light, even if I see it from afar or from the depths. Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to this seeker. For I cannot seek you unless you teach me how, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you, and desire you in seeking you. Let me find you in loving you and love you in finding you. I acknowledge, Lord, and I give thanks that you have created in me this your image, so that I can remember you, think about you and love you. But it is so worn away by sins, so smudged over by the smoke of sins, that it cannot do what it was created to do unless you renew and reform it. I do not even try, Lord, to rise up to your heights, because my intellect does not measure up to that task; but I do want to understand in some small measure your truth, which my heart believes in and loved. Nor do I seek to understand so that I can believe, but rather I believe so that I can understand. For I believe this too, that unless I believe I shall not understand (Isa. 7:9). A Poets History EssayNevertheless, that this being must exist not only in my mind but in reality as well is proved to me by the following argument: If it did not, then whatever did exist in reality would be greater, and thus the thing which has already been proved to exist in my mind will not be greater than everything else. If it is said that this being, which cannot be conceived of in terms of any existing thing, exists in the mind, I do not deny that it exists in mine. But through this alone it can hardly be said to attain existence in reality. I will not concede that much to it unless convinced by some indubitable argument. For whoever says that it must exist because otherwise that which is greater than all other beings will not be greater than all other beings, that person isnt paying careful enough attention to what he says. For I do not yet grant, in fact I deny it or at least question it, that the thing existing in my mind is greater than any real thing. Nor do I concede th at it exists in any way except this: the sort of existence (if you can call it such) a thing has when the mind attempts to form some image of a thing unknown to it on the basis of nothing more than some words the person has heard. How then is it demonstrated to me that the thing exists in reality merely because it is said to be greater than everything else? For I continue to deny and doubt that this is established, since I continue to question whether this greater thing is in my mind or thought even in the way that many doubtful or unreal things are. It would first have to be proved to me that this greater thing really exists somewhere. Only then will we be able to infer from the fact that is greater than everything else that it also subsists in itself. For example, they say there is in the ocean somewhere an island which, due to the difficulty (or rather the impossibility) of finding what does not actually exist, is called the lost island. And they say that this island has all manner of riches and delights, even more of them than the Isles of the Blest, and having no owner or inhabitant it is superior in the abundance of its riches to all other lands which are inhabited by men. If someone should tell me that such is the case, I will find it easy to understand what he says, since there is nothing difficult about it. But suppose he then adds, as if he were stating a logical consequence, Well then, you can no longer doubt that this island more excellent than all other lands really exists somewhere, since you do not doubt that it is in your mind; and since it is more excellent to exist not only in the mind but in reality as well, this island must necessarily exist, because if it didnt, any other island really existing would be more exc ellent than it, and thus that island now thought of by you as more excellent will not be such. If, I say, someone tries to convince me though this argument that the island really exists and there should be no more doubt about it, I will either think he is joking or I will have a hard time deciding who is the bigger fool, me if I believe him or him if he thinks he has proved its existence without having first convinced me that this excellence is something undoubtedly existing in reality and not just something false or uncertain existing in my mind. In the meantime, this is how the fool answers. If it is asserted in the first place that this being is so great that its nonbeing is logically inconceivable (this in turn being proved by nothing except that otherwise it would not be greater than all other beings), then the fool can answer, When did I say that such a being, namely one greater than all others, actually exists, thus allowing you to proceed from there to argue that it so really exists that its very nonexistence is inconceivable? It should first be proved conclusively that some being superior to (that is, greater and better than) all others exists, so that on this basis we can go on to prove the attributes such a greater and better being must possess. When, however, it is said that this highest being cannot be thought of as not existing, perhaps it would have been better to say that its nonbeing or the possibility of its nonbeing is unintelligible. For strictly speaking false things are unintelligible even though they can be thought of in the same way the fool thought God did not exist. I am absolutely certain that I exist, although I nevertheless know that my nonexistence is possible. And I understand without doubting it that the highest thing there is, namely God, exists and cannot not exist. I do not know, however, whether I can think of myself as nonexistant when I know for certain that I exist. If it turns out that I can do so in this case, why should I not be able to do the same concerning other things I know with equal certainty? If I cannot, though, the impossibility of doing so will not be something peculiar to thinking about God. The other parts of that book are argued with such veracity, brilliance and splendor, and filled with such value, such an intimate fragrance of devout and holy feeling, that they should in no way be condemned because of those things which, at the beginningit also prove that he exists are rightly intuited but less firmly argued. Rather those things should be argued more robustly and the entire work thus received with great respect and praise. ANSELMS REPLY TO GAUNILOSince whoever wrote this reply to me is not the fool against whom I wrote in my treatise but instead one who, though speaking on behalf of the fool, is a catholic Christian and no fool himself, I can speak to him as a catholic Christian. You say whoever you are who claim that the fool can say these things that something greater than which cannot be thought of is in the mind only as something that cannot be thought of in terms of some existent thing known to us. And you say that one can no more argue, since a being greater than which cannot be thought of exists in my mind it must also exist in reality, than one can argue, the lost island certainly exists in reality because when it is described in words the hearer has no doubt that it exists in his mind. I say in reply that if a being greater than which cannot be thought of is neither understood nor thought of, nor is it in our understanding or our thought, then God either is not that greater than which cannot be thought of or he is not understood or thought of, nor is he in the understanding or mind. In proving that this is false I appeal to your faith and conscience. Therefore a being greater than which cannot be thought of is really understood and thought of and it really is in our understanding and thought. And that is why the arguments by which you attempt to prove the contrary either are not true or what you think follows from them does not follow from them at all. Moreover, you imagine that although a being greater than which cannot be thought of is understood, it does not follow that it exists in our understanding nor does it follow that, since it is in our understanding, it must exist in reality. I myself say with certainty that if such a being can even be thought of as existing, it must necessarily exist. For a being greater than which cannot be thought of cannot be thought of except as having no beginning; but whatever can be thought of as existing yet does not actually exist can be thought of as having a beginning. Therefore a being greater than which cannot be thought of cannot be thought of yet not actually exist. Therefore, if it can be thought of, it nBibliography-Translation by David Burr emailprotected. See his home page. He indicated that the translations are available for educational use. He intends to expand the number of translations, so keep a note of his home page. Paul Halsall Jan 1996 emailprotected