The Human Person in Science and Theology

by Niels Henrik Gregersen (Editor), Willem B. Drees (Editor), Ulf Görman (Editor)

The concept of human personhood is central to theology and philosophy. It has also become crucial in interdisciplinary fields like bio-ethics and theology and science.

In this book leading European and American scholars explore the dimensions of personhood from scientific and theological perspectives. Contributors include Mary Midgely, Fraser Watts, Philip Hefner, Michael Welker, Dennis Bielfeldt and John A. Teske. This is an important collection and shows the extent to which the current dialogue between science and theology is no longer confined to discussing the relation of theology with physics and biology, but also with neuroscience, psychology and sociology.

Genres: Theology

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Joseph Sverker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good and interesting read and more or less exactly relevant for my research on the interchange between biology and and theology on the question of human personhood. Gregersen's introductory chapter might be the most relevant where he succeeds in covering much ground about both biology and social sciences and shows the relevance of a theological input in the discussion about the human being.

There is much discussion about emergence and what that means for causation. Is it possible to account for downward causation within an emergence discourse? Some argue that it is, some argue that it is not, or if it is only with some great qualifications of what type of emergence one is talking about.

I will certainly have good use of this book even if it was published quite a few years ago. The writings about emergence have increased quite a lot, but this still have many insights that one should heed and relate to also today.

[Jonathan]

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