Anthropological hylomorphism is the view in Christian theology that human beings are composed of both physical matter and an immaterial soul or spirit. The word “hylomorphism” comes from the Greek words hyle (matter) and morphe (form), indicating that humans have both a material and a spiritual dimension.
This view stands in contrast to materialist views that consider human beings to be purely physical, with no spiritual soul. It also contrasts with views like dualism that see the spiritual soul as completely separate from the body.
Instead, anthropological hylomorphism argues that the physical body and the immaterial soul are intimately united in the human person. The soul is the “form” that organizes the “matter” of the body into a living, rational human being. The body is not just a vessel or vehicle for the soul, but an integral part of the human person.
This view has roots in the writings of ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle, but became particularly important in Christian theology. Key figures include Augustine of Hippo, who wrote about the profound unity of body and soul. Thomas Aquinas also discussed hylomorphism and how the soul is the animating principle that makes the body a living human person.
The view aligns with the biblical assertion that human beings are both physical and spiritual in nature. Genesis 2:7 says “The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” This affirms that the physical body alone is not enough to make a complete human being – the spiritual aspect given by God is essential.
Other Bible passages indicate that the immaterial spirit survives after death, showing its distinction from the physical body (Luke 23:46; Philippians 1:23-24; James 2:26). Yet the ultimate hope is the resurrection of the body, when the material and the spiritual will be perfectly reunited (1 Corinthians 15).
This biblical anthropology contrasts with some Greek views that considered the body a disposable shell for the immortal soul. But in line with hylomorphism, Scripture upholds the importance of embodiment and the unity of body and soul to make human beings who bear God’s image.
In summary, the key ideas in anthropological hylomorphism include:
- Human beings have a material, physical dimension (the body)
- Human beings also have an immaterial, spiritual dimension (the soul or spirit)
- The body and the soul are intimately united to compose one whole human person
- The soul is not a separate entity merely inhabiting the body, but the animating principle of the body
- Death is the temporary separation of body and soul, which will be reunited in the resurrection
- The unity of body and soul connects to human dignity and the image of God
Various Christian thinkers have explored and nuanced this view of human nature over history. But the basic concept remains important in theology today as a counter to materialist reductionism. It upholds the equal dignity and importance of the physical and spiritual aspects of humanity.
Anthropological hylomorphism continues to provide a helpful framework for understanding the human person. It resonates with the biblical view of human beings as a profound unity of dust and breath, earthly and heavenly. This view of our nature impacts Christian perspectives on human origins, the afterlife, bioethics, and more. As views of human nature change over time, this ancient concept still has relevance in grounding a holistic biblical understanding of humanity.
The key Bible passages about anthropological hylomorphism include:
- Genesis 2:7 – Human formed from dust, given life by God’s breath
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-57 – Perishable body will be raised imperishable
- James 2:26 – Body without spirit is dead
- Matthew 10:28 – Body and soul both integral to human wholeness
- Philippians 1:21-24 – Being with Christ after death versus remaining in body
- Romans 8:10-11 – The spirit gives life to our mortal bodies
The unity of physical and spiritual in human nature means anthropological hylomorphism continues to be relevant for theology and ethics today. It represents an important biblical perspective on what makes us human.
Some key Christian thinkers who advocated anthropological hylomorphism include:
- Augustine – Affirmed the profound unity of body and soul in human persons.
- Thomas Aquinas – Developed philosophical arguments for hylomorphism using Aristotle’s concepts.
- Martin Luther – Argued the person as a whole is the site of justification, not just the soul.
- John Calvin – Emphasized the embodied soul to argue against anthropological dualism.
- Reinhold Niebuhr – Advocated hylomorphism as the biblical view of human nature.
Anthropological hylomorphism has relevance for a number of theological issues:
- Human origins – It affirms God created a physical and spiritual human nature.
- Afterlife – The hope of embodied resurrection, not just a spiritual afterlife.
- Human dignity – Affirms wholeness and unity of all people as body-soul composites.
- Bioethics – Upholds human life as physical and spiritual unified, not just physical.
- Mind-body duality – Overcomes tendency to separate physical and mental health.
- Technology – Grounding to evaluate impacts of tech on human wholeness.
Some challenges or criticisms of anthropological hylomorphism include:
- Difficulty fully explaining relationship of soul and body philosophically
- Hard to empirically observe or investigate the hypothesized soul
- Dualistic language of “body and soul” still used in theology
- Tends to de-emphasize Hebrew view of person as unified whole
- Materialists argue view is outdated and fails to account for neuroscience
However, it remains an influential paradigm in Christian tradition for upholding human dignity and continuity across body and spirit. It resonates with the holistic biblical vision of humanity and provides an alternative to reductionist materialist views.
The doctrine of anthropological hylomorphism continues to be relevant in modern theology because:
- It aligns with the holistic biblical understanding of human nature
- It upholds the fundamental unity and dignity of all human persons
- It resists materialist reductionism prevalent in modern culture
- It accounts for the empirical reality of consciousness and mental phenomena
- It provides helpful philosophical categories to analyze human nature
- It grounds persistent theological questions about the afterlife, resurrection, etc.
- It serves as a bridge for interdisciplinary dialogue on philosophical anthropology
Although emerging challenges from neuroscience, transhumanism, and cognitive science complicate the classical view, anthropological hylomorphism remains a vital touchstone in Christian theology. It continues to evolve through ongoing dialogue between theology, philosophy, and science on this profound topic of being human.
