RT Article
T1 Science and Philosophy in a Thomistic Anthropology of Sexual Difference
JF Religions
VO 15
IS 9
A1 Finley, John DeSilva
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1899480846
AB This essay examines the relation between scientific inquiry and philosophical thought in the context of a Thomistic account of human sexual difference. I begin by considering Thomas’s own view and its explicit though brief appeal to biological observation. In particular, I focus on his claim that being male or female stems more from a substance’s matter than from its form. Then, I look at a fairly recent exchange between William Newton and myself, in which, drawing upon Thomistic thought in the context of contemporary science, we argued opposing positions. Mine held that sex stems more from form than from matter, while Newton maintained that Thomas’s original position is better. In reviewing this exchange, I note strengths in Newton’s argument and suggest a further distinction, even while concluding that my fundamental position is still a better account. Lastly, I turn to further questions and the necessity of continued partnership between philosophy and science.
K1 Anthropology
K1 Powers
K1 Matter
K1 Soul
K1 Sexual Difference
K1 Sexuality
K1 Science
K1 Biology
K1 Philosophy
K1 Thomas Aquinas
DO 10.3390/rel15091026