Soul & body, & human destiny - 1 Soul & Body, & Human Destiny: Introduction ~ part II n Historical background n 2. Plato’s (Greek, 428-348) dualism GEuthydemus

Soul & body, & human destiny -

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Soul & Body, & Human Destiny:Soul & Body, & Human Destiny:Introduction ~ part IIIntroduction ~ part II

Historical backgroundHistorical background 2. Plato’s (Greek, 428-348) dualism2. Plato’s (Greek, 428-348) dualism

Euthydemus (ca. early 380s)Euthydemus (ca. early 380s)• What is happiness?What is happiness?

Having?Having? Using what we have?Using what we have? Requires knowledgeRequires knowledge Which kind of knowledge is Which kind of knowledge is

the most worthwhile?the most worthwhile?


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Knowledge of the goodKnowledge of the good• Plato’s theory of salvationPlato’s theory of salvation

Cf. ChristianityCf. Christianity TheThe Phaedo Phaedo (ca. 384)(ca. 384)

• One of the aims of philosophy One of the aims of philosophy is “to practice for dying and is “to practice for dying and death” (10)death” (10) What does this mean?What does this mean?


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Plato’s dualism Plato’s dualism Extreme?Extreme? Plato’s denigration of the Plato’s denigration of the

bodily? bodily? The Ideas or FormsThe Ideas or Forms Plato’s position on afterlife Plato’s position on afterlife

is immortality, not is immortality, not resurrection.resurrection.


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Soul & Body, & Human Destiny in theSoul & Body, & Human Destiny in theOld & New TestamentsOld & New Testaments

3. Human destiny in the O.T. & N.T.3. Human destiny in the O.T. & N.T. The Hebrew BibleThe Hebrew Bible

Life in Sheol Life in Sheol a life of lethargy a life of lethargy & inactivity, on the borderline of & inactivity, on the borderline of consciousness. Does this imply consciousness. Does this imply some sort of dualism?some sort of dualism?


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Resurrection in the O.T.Resurrection in the O.T.• Isaiah 26:19 - reference here Isaiah 26:19 - reference here

may be political & not refer to may be political & not refer to the human personthe human person

• Daniel 12:2-3 (c. 165 B.C.E)Daniel 12:2-3 (c. 165 B.C.E)


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In the apocraphaIn the apocrapha• Ecclesiasticus 17:27-28 - death Ecclesiasticus 17:27-28 - death

is finalis final• Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-5 - Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-5 -

probably written by a Hellenized probably written by a Hellenized Jew; notion of immortalityJew; notion of immortality

• II Enoch & II Baruch - II Enoch & II Baruch - intermediate state resurrectionintermediate state resurrection


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Soul & Body, & Human Destiny in Soul & Body, & Human Destiny in early Christianityearly Christianity

When will resurrection occur?When will resurrection occur? Resurrection in the N.T.Resurrection in the N.T.

locus classicus: I Corinthians 15 locus classicus: I Corinthians 15 & II Cor. 5:1-10& II Cor. 5:1-10

4. The Christian tradition4. The Christian tradition Early ChristianityEarly Christianity

• Origin - resurrected person is Origin - resurrected person is entirely spiritualentirely spiritual


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• Jerome - literal bodily resurrectionJerome - literal bodily resurrection• Augustine - resurrection of a Augustine - resurrection of a

transformed earthly bodytransformed earthly body Medieval ChristianityMedieval Christianity

• Aquinas - soul without the body is Aquinas - soul without the body is emaciated, incomplete. emaciated, incomplete. Complete person is both soul & Complete person is both soul & body. Probably combines body. Probably combines resurrection & immortality.resurrection & immortality.


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Oscar Cullman on the death of Oscar Cullman on the death of Socrates & the death of JesusSocrates & the death of Jesus

Sum: N.T. & early, & medieval Sum: N.T. & early, & medieval Christianity support 2 notions of Christianity support 2 notions of resurrectionresurrection

• Extinction/recreaton - Extinction/recreaton - compatible with monism? compatible with monism? Defended by Cullmann & Hick. Defended by Cullmann & Hick. Problem: Personal identity. Problem: Personal identity.


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• Intermediate state Intermediate state Requires some sort of Requires some sort of

dualism? A soul which in dualism? A soul which in intermediate state is intermediate state is incomplete, emaciatedincomplete, emaciated

A combination of A combination of immortality & resurrectionimmortality & resurrection


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Badham’s physicalismBadham’s physicalism

5. Badham’s physicalism5. Badham’s physicalism No possibility of retention of No possibility of retention of

personal identity without personal identity without continuitycontinuity

To To BadhamBadham file file


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Lamm’s argument for afterlifeLamm’s argument for afterlife

6. Maurice Lamm’s response6. Maurice Lamm’s response A top-down argument for life after A top-down argument for life after

deathdeath• Begin with attributes of GodBegin with attributes of God• Goodness of GodGoodness of God• Life is giftLife is gift• Expectation following from thisExpectation following from this


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Soul & Body, & Human DestinySoul & Body, & Human Destiny

7. John Hick’s rejection of dualism & 7. John Hick’s rejection of dualism & defense of personal identity in defense of personal identity in resurrectionresurrection

To HickTo Hick

Documents

Soul & body, & human destiny - 1 Soul & Body, & Human Destiny: Introduction ~ part II n Historical background n 2. Plato’s (Greek, 428-348) dualism GEuthydemus