Aquinas on the Metaphysics of the Hypostatic Union

This book is an insightful exploration of Aquinas's views on how Christ could be both divine and human but still only be one person.

Michael Gorman (Author)

9781107155329, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 June 2017

207 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.7 cm, 0.43 kg

The hypostatic union of Christ, namely his being simultaneously human and divine, is one of the founding doctrines of Christian theology. In this book Michael Gorman presents the first full-length treatment of Aquinas's metaphysics of the hypostatic union. After setting out the historical and theological background, he examines Aquinas's metaphysical presuppositions, explains the basic elements of his account of the hypostatic union, and then enters into detailed discussions of four areas where it is more difficult to get a clear understanding of Aquinas's views, arguing that in some cases we must be content with speculative reconstructions that are true to the spirit of Aquinas's thought. His study pays close attention to the Latin texts and their chronology, and engages with a wide range of secondary literature. It will be of great interest to theologians as well as to scholars of metaphysics and medieval thought.

Introduction
1. Person and nature in philosophical perspective
2. Aquinas's basic view of the incarnation
3. The incarnation and divine simplicity, immutability, and impassibility
4. How does Christ's human nature not ground its own person?
5. The number of existences (esse) in Christ
6. The consistency of Christology
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600 [HPCB]