• The body and ethics in Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae

    Author(s):
    Marika Rose (see profile)
    Date:
    2013
    Subject(s):
    Theology, Doctrinal, History
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    angels, embodiment, Thomas Aquinas, Historical theology
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6R78D
    Abstract:
    This article explores the role of the body in Thomas Aquinas’ ethical thought, focusing on the Summa Theologiae. Drawing on Thomas’ account of human nature, teleology and ethics, it traces Thomas’ account of human embodiment through his discussion of the rela- tionship between human and angelic nature, the beatific vision, law and virtue, and the active and contemplative lives. Against several re- cent accounts which have presented versions of Thomas as a thinker who is generally positive in his assessment of the human body, it argues that there is a basic tension in Thomas’ thought between the desire to locate human distinctiveness in the conjunction of body and soul and the sense that after a certain point, embodiment is pre- cisely that which obstructs progress towards God. This tension is inextricably connected to Thomas’ understanding of human calling and discipleship and poses serious challenges to any attempts to draw on Thomas’ work as an ethical resource.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    10.1111/nbfr.12016
    Publisher:
    Wiley-Blackwell
    Pub. Date:
    2013-2-14
    Journal:
    New Blackfriars
    Volume:
    94
    Issue:
    1053
    Page Range:
    540 - 551
    ISSN:
    0028-4289
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    6 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
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