Parker's Pensées Ep. 188 - Aristotelian Animalism and Immortal Souls w/Dr. Christopher Tomaszewski
Jul 28, 2022
Dr. Christopher Tomaszewski, an assistant professor of philosophy specializing in Aristotelian Animalism, dives into profound philosophical inquiries. He discusses whether humans are merely animals and the nature of our souls, arguing that while our bodies perish, the soul persists. The conversation also touches on the complexities of hylomorphism, exploring the body-soul relationship in a way that challenges traditional views of identity and existence after death. Tomaszewski's insights offer a captivating blend of philosophy, faith, and the essence of what it means to be human.
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Tomaszewski's Path to Philosophy
- Christopher Tomaszewski started as a math nerd and grew serious about Catholicism during high school. He transitioned into philosophy while pursuing degrees, mixing interests in math and classical philosophy.
- His journey through Catholic seminary compelled him to study philosophy, which shaped his unique blend of Aristotelian Thomism and philosophy of mind.
Aristotelian Animalism Explained
- Animalism holds human beings are essentially animals, distinct from constitutionalism or substance dualism. Tomaszewski supports Aristotelian animalism, viewing humans as a hylomorphic unity of form and matter.
- He critiques modern dualists who treat the body as non-substantial, emphasizing that bodies and souls form an inseparable composite as Aristotle and Aquinas taught.
Form Solves Vagueness Problems
- Problems like vague existence and vague parthood challenge accounts that ignore form in composition. Aristotle's substantial form unifies material parts into one substance, solving these vagueness issues.
- Souls primarily function to unify living animals as one entity, more so than to explain psychological phenomena like qualia or intentionality.