Embodied Souls, Ensouled Bodies: An Exercise in Christological Anthropology and Its Significance for the Mind/Body Debate(T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology)

The book explores the relationship between Christology and theological anthropology through the lens provided by the theology of Karl Barth and the mind/body discussion in contemporary philosophy of mind. It thus comprises two major sections. The first develops an understanding of Karl Barth's theological anthropology focusing on three major facets: (1) the centrality of Jesus Christ for any real understanding of human persons; (2) the resources that such a christologically determined view of human nature has for engaging in interdisciplinary discourse; and (3) the ontological implications of this approach for understanding the mind/body relationship. The second part draws on this theological foundation to consider the implications that Christological anthropology has for analyzing and assessing several prominent ways of explaining the mind/body relationship. Specifically, it interacts with two broad categories of theories: 'nonreductive' forms of physicalism and 'holistic' forms of dualism. After providing a basic summary of each, the book applies the insights gained from Barth's anthropology to ascertain the extent to which the two approaches may be considered christologically adequate.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1-Introduction: Recentering Theological Anthropology This chapter frames the book by arguing for the importance of (1) a christological approach to understanding humans, (2) the mind/body question, and (3) Karl Barth's theology as a helpful way of engaging the first two issues. Chapter 2-From Christology to Anthropology: The Ontological Determination of Humanity in Karl Barth's Theological Anthropology This chapter surveys Barth's Christological approach to understanding humanity, paying particular attention to the methodological implications of both the continuity and the discontinuity between Jesus and other humans. Chapter 3-Conversing with the Enemy? The Phenomena of the Human and the Nature of a Christologically Determined Dialogue The first part of this chapter argues that Barth's 'christocentrism', properly understood' is neither overly constricted (the 'christomonist' criticism) nor indefinitely open (contra certain postmodern readings). Rather, it provides a definite starting point from which one can engage in meaningful conversation with other perspectives. The second half, shows how this plays out in Barth's own conversations with non-theological approaches to understanding humanity. Chapter 4-Christ, Spirit, and Covenant: A Model for Human Ontology In this chapter, we consider how Barth applies his Christological insights to understanding the body/soul relationship. Rather than providing a theoretical answer to the question, we see how Barth's approach provides a Christological framework within which any particular ontological theory must function. Chapter 5-Physicalism, but not Reductionism: Christological Adequacy and Nonreductive Forms of Physicalism This chapter first explains what it means for a theory of human nature to be committed to both physicalism and nonreduction. Having laid out the basic tenets of such a position, the chapter then provides a critical discussion of three areas in which the Christological adequacy of such theories might be challenged: mental causation, phenomenal consciousness, and personal identity. Chapter 6-Across the Cartesian Divide: Christological Adequacy and Holistic Forms of Dualism Like the previous chapter, this one first explains dualism as a theory of human ontology and the more holistic approaches that characterize contemporary dualism. Then we again engage in a critical discussion of their Christological adequacy on three points: mental causation, personal embodiment, and necessary immortality. Chapter 7-Conclusion: Sharpening Our Christological Vision Drawing together the conclusions and insights of the various chapters, this chapter argues that understanding the person and work of Jesus Christ clearly has decisive implications for understanding human persons and that more work needs to be done to broaden and clarify the ramifications of this approach.

About the Author :
Marc Cortez (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Assistant Professor of Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Review :
‘This is a very competent, well-constructed work which offers an extended engagement with the theological anthropology of Karl Barth, as set out in Church Dogmatics III and a wide selection of contemporary literature on the relation between the mind and the body. In clarity and tightness of argument, thoroughness, conceptual skill and theological sensitivity, it is a superior book which takes debate about Barth's anthropology in a significant fresh direction.' John Webster, University of Aberdeen, UK. Mention -Book News, February 2009 "An excellent entryway into philosophical debates regarding mind and body for the uninitiated...Cortez has done a great service." -Michael Allen, Themelios