Neuronauki, teologia, metafizyka – w poszukiwaniu wspólnej przestrzeni dialogu

Abstract

The present article focuses on the role of metaphysics in the dialogue between neuroscience and theology in order to determine an ontology of the soul that neuroscience finds acceptable and consistent. Theological discourse on the human person or soul necessitates that one enter into the field of metaphysics – a field into which neuroscience, in principle, does not venture. By considering several variants of the metaphysical spaces of dialogue, this article first attempts to determine whether dualistic interpretations work and then presents the potential problems associated with the approach of these interpretations. It then proceeds to consider whether theological anthropology can be carried out using a monistic key. To this end, the author analyzes the anthropological content of Revelation as well as the statements of the Magisterium of the Church from a metaphysical point of view. The end of the article presents a relational concept of the soul that appears to address the issue of dualism while simultaneously upholding basic theological postulates (such as the immortality of the person and the mortality of the body), despite the argument that an ontological status that guarantees human subjectivity cannot be ascribed to the soul.