托马斯论人性位格

Thomas Aquinas on Human Person

托马斯的人性位格思想奠定了其形而上学的存有现实概念。人性位格是具理性本性的自立实体。存有现实概念意味存有存在非静止的,是具动态的事实。人的理性本性指神创造人时赋予人相似他的精神,人因此被称为'神的肖像'。'神的肖像'概念则是人性位格概念的神学基础。理性本性虽是人的本质,它是人与其他受造者不同所在。唯人性位格指完整的人,非仅在理性本性。人的存有结构在形上层次有理性灵魂与存有现实的组合;在物理层次有灵魂与身体的组合。形上层次的存有是统一起灵魂与身体的存有,故人具实体的统一性。人性位格是自立实体,因人的理性拥有存有,它是在自身的分开实体。自立的实体是自己活动的原理。人是自己活动的主人,人是自由的,他对自己的活动负责,人的活动具伦理面向。自立、自主和自由是人性位格的属性。理解和意志的自由选择是理性的固有活动。人除了可拥有外在事物的知识,人的理性可回到自身有自我的知识及主体我的意识。每一人性位格因其存有是独特的,无以复制和无以沟通。唯因人的存有是精神性的,人与他者有最高程度的沟通,人同时具有社会性。人借其自主活动,为自己增加新的完美。活动属附质层次,主体借由活动增加新的附质存有,人因而得以将人性中的潜能现实化出来,直到达到个体的最终完美。托马斯的人性位格概念代表着基督宗教对每一个体的重视,这是希腊—罗马文化中所缺乏的。人性位格思想指出,每一个他者有其固有的价值与尊严。

Aquinas’idea of human person is founded on his metaphysical thought of actus essendi.A human person is a subsistent with rational nature.For Aquinas,esse exists,it is not static,but with dynamic energies.The rational nature of the humans is granted by God while creating man in accordance with His likeness.Man is then called the imago Dei.The idea of the imago Dei is the theological foundation of the idea of human person.Although the rational nature is the essence of man which distinguishes man from all other creatures,human person refers to the whole person,not the rational nature.In dealing with man’s ontological structure,in metaphysical order,a man is constituted by the composition of rational soul and actus esesendi;in physical order,it is the composition of soul and body.The esse in metaphysical order is the esse which unifies the soul and body,so that man is endowed with substantial unity.Due to its esse,a human person is a subsistent,his rational soul is in turn a separate substance in its own right.A subsistent substance is the principle of its activities.Man is sui dominus of its activities.Since man has freedom,he is responsible for all his actus humanus which is characterized with moral dimension.Subsistence,autonomy and liberty are the properties of human person.Understanding and the free choice of will are the proper activities of the faculty of intellect.Besides its knowledge of the object in the world,the intellect is capable of reditio completa which enables it becomes conscious of itself as a subject I,and have self-knowledge.On account of its esse,every human person is a unique,irrepeatable and incommunicable being.But because the esse of the human being is spiritual,he can have the greatest self-communication with the others.In abort,he has social dimension.Through its autonomous activities,a man increases new perfections.All activities belong to accidental order,the new esse he got belongs to accidental level.A human being is capable of actualizing all the potentialities of his nature,until reaching the ultimate perfection.Aquinas’idea of human person represents the Christian concerns for the individual,which is exactly what the Greek-Roman world lacked.His idea of the human person highlights the proper value and dignity of human person.