Abstract

IRIZAR, Liliana B  and  CASTRO, Santiago. The being, the form and the person: about the ontological root of human dignity in Thomas of Aquinas. Rev. Lasallista Investig. [online]. 2013, vol.10, n.2, pp.128-150. ISSN 1794-4449.

Abstract The objective of this article is to introduce a discussion about the ontological roots of human person in St. Thomas Aquinas. For such purpose, a dialogue between some Spanish language speaking Thomists is established, especially Eudaldo Forment, and some Anglo-Saxon Thomists such as Lawrence Dewan and Stephen L. Brock, plus Dutch Thomist Rudi te Velde. An initial part shows how the conception one can have of the relationship form-esse can directly influence the perception of the core topic of this paper. The subsequent parts offer arguments to evidence the fact that, for Thomas, the root of human dignity is not the personal being. Finally, the paper shows how Aquinas has enough arguments to say that such a root can be found in the rational nature of the human person, basically in the spiritual soul.

Keywords : human person; spiritual soul; dignity; rational nature; esse; personal being; St. Thomas Aquinas; Etienne Gilson; Cornelio Fabro; Lawrence Dewan; Stephen L. Brock; Rudi te Velde and Eudaldo Forment.

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