It Is Reasonable to Uphold a Non-Reductive Christian Monism? Theology Confronted with the Mind-Brain and Body-Soul Problem

Abstract

Is Christian Anthropology essentially dualist or it is reasonable to uphold a particular form of Christian monism? Recent developments in neurosciences challenge the idea of an immaterial soul, source of spiritual operations such as cognition, volition, freedom, values, aesthetics and even religiosity. This article presents two neurological anthropologies, one represented by Jean Pierre Changeux’ book L’homme neuronal and the other represented by Gerald Edelman’s work. Through an analysis of biblical anthropology and some relevant texts written by Saint Irenaeus of Lyon and Saint Thomas Aquinas, the article seeks to demonstrate the existence of a Christian tradition characterized by a non-reductionist monism. Furthermore, a series of pertinent theological principles are retrieved from this tradition, which have inspired, and still ought to inspire, the development of a non-dualist Christian Anthropology: the principle of creation, an incarnation principle and an eschatological principle. This Christian tradition and a dialogue with natural sciences inspired two contemporary Christian theologians to develop their holistic anthropologies: Karl Rahner and Alexander Ganoczy. Finally, the article discusses what could be the contribution of theology in the ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue between neuroscientists, philosophers of mind and theologians.