<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The so-called. ‘Christianization’ of Aristotle in the Middle Ages and in particular by Thomas Aquinas remains a vexed debate. A case by case study seems to be a fruitful approach. One of these cases concerns Aristotle’s definition of the soul in <italic>De anima</italic> II, 1(412b10-25). Applying this philosophical claim to the theological question <italic>Utrum Christus fuerit homo in triduo mortis</italic> seems to be not without difficulty, as St. Thomas’ frequent treatments of this question show. In this paper I analyze these texts and show how Aquinas on multiple occasions follows <italic>De anima</italic> II, 1 and similar texts of Aristotle and defends a robust Aristotelian position, even in light of the significance of his recovery of Greek Church Fathers.</p></abstract>

The so-called. ‘Christianization’ of Aristotle in the Middle Ages and in particular by Thomas Aquinas remains a vexed debate. A case by case study seems to be a fruitful approach. One of these cases concerns Aristotle’s definition of the soul in De anima II, 1(412b10-25). Applying this philosophical claim to the theological question Utrum Christus fuerit homo in triduo mortis seems to be not without difficulty, as St. Thomas’ frequent treatments of this question show. In this paper I analyze these texts and show how Aquinas on multiple occasions follows De anima II, 1 and similar texts of Aristotle and defends a robust Aristotelian position, even in light of the significance of his recovery of Greek Church Fathers.

In Defense of Aristotle: Thomas Aquinas on the Identity of the Living Body and the Corpse of Christ

European Journal for the Study of Thomas Aquinas

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The so-called. ‘Christianization’ of Aristotle in the Middle Ages and in particular by Thomas Aquinas remains a vexed debate. A case by case study seems to be...

In Defense of Aristotle: Thomas Aquinas on the Identity of the Living Body and the Corpse of Christ

Published Online: Jun 26, 2019

Page range: 65 - 76

Received: Jan 25, 2019

Accepted: Apr 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejsta-2019-0005

Keywords
hylomorphism, soul, death of Christ, Aristotelianism, Church fathers

© 2019 Jörgen Vijgen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In Defense of Aristotle: Thomas Aquinas on the Identity of the Living Body and the Corpse of Christ

Published Online: Jun 26, 2019

Page range: 65 - 76

Received: Jan 25, 2019

Accepted: Apr 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejsta-2019-0005

Keywordshylomorphism, soul, death of Christ, Aristotelianism, Church fathers

© 2019 Jörgen Vijgen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
hylomorphism, soul, death of Christ, Aristotelianism, Church fathers