This work offers a symposium on the nature of human sexual difference drawing on Plato's masterpiece: having explored the observed phenomena of sexual difference, four stories are told of the origins, essence, and ends of the human male and female. First, the evolutionists, and then Simone de Beauvoir, and Judith Butler present their accounts. Next, a fourth (and unique vision for our age) is added: the thought of Thomas Aquinas is placed in dialogue with the evolutionists, Beauvoir, and Butler, thereby introducing into contemporary discourse a voice that is both ancient and new. The work seeks to trace each protagonist's account to its fonts, so providing a perspective from which various streams of thought might be understood both in their divergence and common origins. It thus hopes to offer a common language and an interpretive key in a realm where confusion and misunderstanding too often reign.

Provides metaphysical foundation to sexual difference Draws upon Thomistic philosophy and findings of contemporary science Offers a non-reductive view of sexual difference that speaks to the depth of human experience

Autorentext

Timothy Fortin is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophical Theology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences in Sterling, VA. His research focusses on philosophical anthropology and the relationship between philosophy and psychology.

Klappentext

This work offers a "symposium" on the nature of human sexual difference drawing on Plato's masterpiece: having explored the observed phenomena of sexual difference, four stories are told of the origins, essence, and ends of the human male and female. First, the evolutionists, and then Simone de Beauvoir, and Judith Butler present their accounts. Next, a fourth (and unique vision for our age) is added: the thought of Thomas Aquinas is placed in dialogue with the evolutionists, Beauvoir, and Butler, thereby introducing into contemporary discourse a voice that is both ancient and new. The work seeks to trace each protagonist's account to its fonts, so providing a perspective from which various streams of thought might be understood both in their divergence and common origins. It thus hopes to offer a common language and an interpretive key in a realm where confusion and misunderstanding too often reign.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. The Explanandum.- 3. The Evolutionary Account.- 4. Simone de Beauvoir.- 5. Judith Butler.- 6. The Thomistic Account A Causal Analysis.- 7. The Thomistic Account Ontological Analysis.- 8. Resolutions.- Index.