Credo ut intelligam

Credo ut intelligam (Latin, " I believe in order that I can see ") is a short formulation for a theological- philosophical program of Anselm of Canterbury ( 1033-1109 ), with whom he wants to justify the traditional faith rationally, without this justification to make it a condition for faith.

It is in analogy and contrast to the theological approach credo quia absurdum ( " I believe because it is absurd " ) formulated ( formerly Tertullian or Augustine was attributed to ), and continues ( Credimus a similar approach Augustins, ut cognoscamus, " we believe to recognize "). The credo program, ut intelligam has become fundamental to the scholasticism.

In Scripture, Proslogion, in which this program is being established, Anselm prays first to God, from whom he received the ontological proof of God, Anselm sets out then. Here Anselm emphasizes a strong unit of Biblical faith and human reason. The reason is a source of truth among others. It is still made ​​no theological rationalism or a natural theology as in modern times as a source against the Scripture faith, but reversed the traditional faith will be enriched by the reason.

The gifted by faith looking for insight and reasoning, but there is thus no doubt about the faith before, such as in the formulation of the ontological proof of God in Descartes.

The full quote from the Proslogion is:

"For I am not seeking to { see, understand, understand } so I believe, but I believe that I { see, comprehend, understand } can. [ intelligere is variously translated ] "