Historical Perspectives The Soul and the Body Historical Perspectives
Introduction review Modern-view of the soul Implications Naturalism – only nature exists Materialism – all explanations reduce to matter Physicalism – the human is only physical (mind=brain) Determinism – only actions/events physically determined Implications Creativity Heroism Reason All physically determined; no noble, purposeful, or meaningful end
Historical Perspectives – The Early Church Irenaeus (130-202) Trichotomy – spirit, soul, and body Tertullian (160-220) Dichotomy Traducianism (vs. creationism) Origen (182-254) Pre-existence of the soul Augustine (354-430) The spirit, an extra organ of the soul?
Historical Perspectives – The Medieval Period Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) The soul, the higher aspect of man, is rationality The body is a lower aspect of man to be ruled by the soul
Historical Perspectives – The Reformation and Post-Reformation Period Martin Luther (1483-1546) Trichotomist or dichotomist? Traducian John Calvin (1509-1564) Dichotomist Creationist Rene Descartes (1596-1650) Sharp distinction between body and soul Soul is our rationality Soul is housed in the pineal gland in the brain
Historical Perspectives – The Modern Period William Newton Clarke (1840-1912) Theistic evolution Psychological understanding of man Karl Barth (1886-1968) Emphasized the unity of the body and soul G.C. Berkouwer (1903-1996) Holistic approach to the body and soul Anthony Hoekema (1913-1988) Psychosomatic union
Historical Perspectives – Recent Developments Nancy Murphy Nonreductive physicalism John Cooper Holistic dualism