Abstract

In philosophical anthropology, hylomorphism is the view that human beings are compounds of matter (Greek hylē) and form (Greek morphē). In this chapter I first present a version of hylomorphism that is inspired by the Aristotelian tradition and explore some difficulties pertaining to it. Second I investigate how this version accounts for three central topics of Christian belief: the creation and beginning of an individual human being, the moral responsibility and moral status of human beings, and, finally, their bodily resurrection.