Overview

This work discusses Thomistic anthropology in relation to contemporary scientific knowledge. The author presents the argument that human-ness and even personhood begins at conception. The ethical implications of this view are also considered. Recently some Thomistic analyzes have appeared, notably by Pasnau, Dombrowski and Deltete, and Maguire, which apply Aquinas's anthropological views to today's bioethical issues in a profoundly problematic way. After presenting Aristotelian, biblical, and scientific aspects of human-ness, this work arrives at its primary goal, a new and comprehensive Thomistic definition of the human person: 'A human person is a rational, embodied member of the species Homo sapiens (the species being determined by the genetic structure of its embodiment), created in God's image but fallen, at any level of development, from conception to death'. Secondarily, the point brought out from this definition is that if Aquinas's philosophical principles (not his outdated scientific views) are coupled with today's genetic and embryological information.

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The most important questions are these: Who and what are we and can we know it? Dr. Payne has written a magnificent defense of the best answer to these questions, an answer that many of us believe is the last best hope for our civilization. - Prof. Francis J. Beckwith Baylor University The book not only offers a compelling defense of attributing personhood to every human being from conception to bodily death, but also delivers a rigorous critique of the work of various contemporary philosophers who want to claim the mantle of Aquinas... - Prof. Joseph W. Koterski Fordham University

"""The most important questions are these: Who and what are we and can we know it? Dr. Payne has written a magnificent defense of the best answer to these questions, an answer that many of us believe is the last best hope for our civilization."" - Prof. Francis J. Beckwith Baylor University ""The book not only offers a compelling defense of attributing personhood to every human being from conception to bodily death, but also delivers a rigorous critique of the work of various contemporary philosophers who want to claim the mantle of Aquinas..."" - Prof. Joseph W. Koterski Fordham University"""

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