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Christian Anthropology James A. Van Slyke August 10, 2007

Christian Anthropology James A. Van Slyke August 10, 2007. Christian Anthropology. Study of Human Nature from a Christian Perspective Bible Theology Philosophy of Mind Science. Views of Human Nature. Which of the following comes closest to your view of human nature?

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Christian Anthropology James A. Van Slyke August 10, 2007

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  1. Christian Anthropology James A. Van Slyke August 10, 2007

  2. Christian Anthropology • Study of Human Nature from a Christian Perspective • Bible • Theology • Philosophy of Mind • Science

  3. Views of Human Nature • Which of the following comes closest to your view of human nature? • 1. Humans are made of three parts; e.g., body, soul and spirit. (trichotomism) • 2. Humans are composed of two parts: (dualism) • 2a. A body and a soul • 2b. A body and a mind • 3. Humans are composed of one ‘part’: a physical body (materialism/physicalism) • 4. The question doesn’t make sense!

  4. Ancient Greek Philosophy • Plato (428-348 BCE) • Mind is separable from the Body • Bodies act within the material world • Minds are immaterial and act on bodies • minds or souls were stuck between this world and the world of forms

  5. Ancient Greek Philosophy • Aristotle (384-322 BCE) • Different from Plato’s Dualism • Forms are not independent of • what they form • Soul is principle of existence • Does not exist independent of the body • That which differentiates humans from other animals

  6. Theological Accounts • Early Theological accounts of human nature deeply influenced by philosophy • Platonic and Neoplatonic thought >> Augustine • Aristotle >> Thomas Aquinas

  7. Neoplatonism of St. Augustine • Links to Platonic Views • Hierarchy of Being • Gradation of being starting from ‘the Good’ or ‘Divine Mind’ and emanating down • Each successive move down the hierarchy • Changeable or Mutable • Loss of goodness or intelligibility

  8. Augustine’sHierarchy • God substituted for the Divine Mind • God creates the forms, material existence, etc. • Augustine’s Anthropology • Not as drastic as Plato’s • Yet still retains a hierarchical view of the person • Important to exert control

  9. Soul Soul Body Body The Hierarchy of Being • Neoplatonic list • Divine Mind • Forms • Divinities • stars • planets • humans • animals • plants • inorganic material Augustine’s list God Forms Planets angels Humans Animals Plants Inorganic Material

  10. Thomas Aquinas • Hierarchically Organized Soul • Hylomorphic view (Aristotle) • Soul is the form of the body

  11. Thomas Aquinas • Three parts of the soul • Rational • Intellect – Active and Passive • Will • Animal or Sensitive • Locomotion, appetite, sensation, emotion • Vegetative • Reproduction, nutrition, growth • Body

  12. Modern Philosophy of Mind • Rene Descartes • Father of Modern Philosophy • Atomist revolution in Physics • Studied human physiology • Radical Dualism • Attempted to save free will from a determinist physics

  13. Modern Philosophy of Mind Immaterial mind • Radical Dualism • Gardens • Reflex arc • Divided person into two substances • Thinking • Immaterial substance • Extension • Body = machine Material Brain and Body

  14. Problems with Dualism • Not consistent with Biblical accounts • Not consistent with current scientific accounts • Not consistent with current views in philosophy of mind

  15. Possible definitions • Views of human nature • Radical Dualism • Soul or mind is separable from the body • Person is identified with the soul • Holistic Dualism • Person is a composite of separable ‘parts’ • Identified with the whole • Normal functioning is unity

  16. Possible Definitions • Views of human nature • Nonreductive physicalism • Person is a physical organism • Higher levels functioning and relationship to God/Society leads to • Morality, spirituality • Eliminative/ reductive Materialism • Person is a physical organism • Aspects of the person described by the physical sciences • Emotional • Morality • Religious Experiences

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