“The Evolution of Human Dignity in Catholic Morality”
Dignity is one of the most important and, at the same time, one of the least explored concepts in Catholic moral thought. This essay argues that there is a distinct shift in the understanding of dignity from Thomas Aquinas, whose use primarily associated dignity with social status and for whom dign...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Moral Theology |
| Online Access: | https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/18891-the-evolution-of-human-dignity-in-catholic-morality |
| Summary: | Dignity is one of the most important and, at the same time, one of the least explored concepts in Catholic moral thought. This essay argues that there is a distinct shift in the understanding of dignity from Thomas Aquinas, whose use primarily associated dignity with social status and for whom dignity was a minor moral category, to contemporary Catholic morality, that describes dignity as an intrinsic feature of personhood and upholds dignity as a foundational moral category. Both views were influenced by the social/political thinking of their times. Both views used the image of God theme to justify their understanding of dignity, yet they hold distinct views of the prescriptions associated with that claim. Both views have a driving relational component in their understanding of dignity, although the primary referent for this is God for Thomas and other humans for contemporary Catholic morality. It is this last feature that contemporary Catholic morality distinguishes its use of dignity from other contemporary sources. This use of dignity is a source of tension in the Church as Catholics come realize their dignity. |
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| ISSN: | 2166-2851 2166-2118 |