Search Results for: "Graham Floyd"

The Economics of Anthropology: Imago Dei as a Source for Economic Principles

Economics is one of the most contentious issues in modern societal and academic thought.

This paper argues that human anthropology, specifically the theological doctrine of the imago Dei, serves as a source for basic economic principles which provides an understanding of how economics should be exemplified in creation.

First, the paper outlines the doctrine of the imago Dei. Second, the doctrine of the imago Dei is tied to the philosophical theory of universals, particularly as it is understood in a Christian context. Third, the paper connects these two positions with the concept of natural law. Finally, the paper notes areas where the biblical conception of natural law implies certain economic principles that guide the existence and flourishing of human beings.

The full-text of this paper is available for FREE by clicking hereThe paper is part of an ongoing EPS web project focused on a Philosophy of Theological Anthropology.

Universals and their Implications on Sexuality, Gender, Race, and Species

One of the greatest philosophical and theological debates in history has been over the existence of universals. These multiply instantiable entities are used to explain the structure of reality as well as undergird knowledge.

Many, even within Christian circles, reject the existence of such entities and embrace nominalism: that only particulars exist.

This paper contends that nominalism has implications on anthropology that are not consistent with a biblical understanding of the concept. Christians, therefore, should reject nominalism and embrace universals.

The full-text of this paper is available for FREE by clicking hereThe paper is part of an ongoing EPS web project focused on a Philosophy of Theological Anthropology.


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Deriving the Imago Dei from the Incarnation

The doctrine of the imago Dei is one of the center pieces of Christian theology. It is something that all human beings possess that unites them as well as sets them apart from the rest of creation.

There are, however, disputes over what the imago Dei entails. I propose that the doctrine of the Incarnation coupled with the doctrine of divine omniscience and theory of divine ideas can provide an explanation as to what properties constitute the divine image.

Since the Incarnation is a logical possibility for the Godhead, it resides as an idea within the necessarily and a se omniscient divine mind. This idea represents what God (namely the Second Person) would be like (i.e. his image) if he took on corporeal form.

As a result, human nature (i.e. the imago Dei) is derived from the divine ontology and its potential incarnation. Thus, both material and immaterial human properties can be said to be part of the imago Dei.

The full-text of this paper is available for FREE by clicking hereThe paper is part of an ongoing EPS web project focused on a Philosophy of Theological Anthropology.


Please consider becoming a regular annual or monthly financial partner with the Evangelical Philosophical Society in order to expand its reach, support its members, and be a credible presence of Christ-shaped philosophical interests in the academy and into the wider culture!

2019 EPS Southwest Region: Call for Papers

Theme: “Middle Knowledge”

March 8-9, 2019
3939 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126
All full members and student members of EPS are invited to submit paper proposals on topics related to this year’s theme, including heaven, hell, purgatory, resurrection, the afterlife, etc. Quality papers on topics not directly related to the theme are also welcome. 
Full Members: Paper proposals should include a title and abstract (300 words), the presenter’s name and institutional affiliation, and the presenter’s membership status. An acceptable paper should be delivered in 25 minutes with 5-10 minutes for discussion. 
Student Members: Proposals should include the student’s degree program and email confirmation.
All paper proposals should be submitted to cmeeks@mbts.edu
The submission deadline is February 1, 2019.
 
Student Paper Competition: Student members whose papers are accepted for inclusion in the program will be eligible to enter a student paper competition. Students who wish to enter the competition must submit the following to Greg Trickett at gtrickett@wc.edu by Feb. 8, 2019
  1. A titled, full version of the paper to be presented suitable for blind review.
  2. A 200-300 word abstract with the paper title as it appears on the blind review submission, the student’s name, pursued degree, and societal and institutional affiliations.
Winner(s) will be announced at the final plenary session of the conference. Students must present their papers at the conference to be considered for the competition. 
Joshua Farris, Chair, jfarris@hbu.edu
Chad Meeks, Program Chair, cmeeks@mbts.edu
Graham Floyd, Secretary
 
To enjoy more work on philosophy of religion issues, become a subscriber to the journal, Philosophia Christior become a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society [includes annual print subscription to the journal], along with many FREE articles at the EPS website.

Web Project: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

The Evangelical Philosophical Society (EPS) is pleased to introduce a unique and ongoing Philosophy of Theological Anthropology project! Your contributions, readership, exploration and support are most welcomed. For more on this theme and Christian contributions to philosophy, become a subscriberfor as low as $25 per year! – to Philosophia Christi, the peer-reviewed journal of the EPS [all EPS members receive Philosophia Christi as part of their membership].

Summary of Project 

Inaugurated in 2018, The Philosophy of Theological Anthropology is an EPS web project devoted to the foundations and meta-themes of theological anthropology. Contributors seek to highlight a variety of new topics, which are at present underexplored, and fresh philosophical perspectives of older topics. This is an opportunity for philosophers and constructive theologians to explore foundational and innovative themes within theological anthropology from a philosophical perspective.

Topics of interest in this web series include areas of epistemology, metaphysics, Christology, and traditioned anthropology. We are interested in approaches that reconceive in fresh new ways the conditions and foundations for thinking about theological anthropology. This amounts to critical interrogations of commonly held assumptions in the contemporary theological literature on anthropology. We invite contributions that are extensions of previously published works as well as unique speculative pieces. 

Areas of Web Project 

The present issue will contain topics on anthropology, philosophy of mind, imago Dei [broadly conceived], with the aim toward advancing the philosophical foundations and implications of a theistic anthropology.

Current Papers

Core Project Questions

  • How should we approach the anthropos and its telos?
  • Furthermore, how might we understand human ‘selfhood’ and ‘identity’?
  • What are the benefits and liabilities of an Analytic Theology approach?
  • Analytic Theology and Christological anthropology?
  • What are the benefits and liabilities of a more Phenomenological approach to the anthropos?
  • What is the distinctive contribution of philosophy of mind/personal ontology in contemporary theological anthropology?
  • What role does or should the sciences play in our theological constructions?
  • What are the benefits of a Christological method to anthropology?
  • Christological anthropology as an organizing motif?
  • Is a Christological method sufficient for theological anthropology?
  • From the Christian tradition, what is the Good News for the anthropos and how might that shape approaches to a study of what it means to be human?
  • What role do ecclesial, theological, or philosophical traditions play in our theological construction?
  • What substantive place does reason and experience have in understanding humans?
  • What are the different religious/denominational perspectives on the nature of human beings?
  • How might spiritual features and formation of a human being shape an understanding of the nature and purpose of a human being?
  • What are the distinctive ideas within a Christian anthropology and other religious anthropologies?
  • How might theologies and philosophies of the human person shape theologies and philosophies of ‘public life’?

Find this Project Interesting? See these other EPS Web Projects


Want to Contribute to the Philosophy of Theological Anthropology Project? 

Options for contributing: reflection essays, critical responses, book reviews, exploratory essays, dialectical pieces, methodological hybrids (biblical studies to philosophy), how to communicate to the public.

Length: Shorter (e.g., 1500-2000 words) and longer papers (e.g., 6,000 words) are permitted. You are welcome to work with the Project Editors on length issues.

Suggested topics: evolution and theological anthropology, imago Dei, the metaphysics of gender and sexuality, method, Christological anthropology, religious epistemology, and human ontology.

Main Project Categories:

  1. Denominational and Traditioned Theological Anthropology
  2. Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
  3. Sociology, Ethnography, and Theological Anthropology
  4. Science, Design, and Anthropology
  5. Technology and Posthumanism
  6. Morality and Theological Anthropology
  7. Disciplines: Philosophy, Biblical Theology, Philosophical Theology, Systematic/Constructive Theology, Retrieval Theology, Social Science, Humanities (N.B. the aim of the investigation ought to impinge on philosophical-theological matters)

Submit a Proposal: Email a topic, thesis and description of the proposed paper (250 words max) to Project Editors Joshua Farris and Nathan Jacobs [see below]. They will help guide your proposal toward being a contribution of this web project.

Lead Project Editors & Coordinators:

Past Editorial Assistant: Dave Strobolakos.

Web Project Overseer: Joseph E. Gorra, Consulting Editor, Philosophia Christi.


Please consider becoming a regular annual or monthly financial partner with the Evangelical Philosophical Society in order to expand its reach, support its members, and be a credible presence of Christ-shaped philosophical interests in the academy and into the wider culture!


Imago Dei: Why Christians Should Believe in Abstract Entities

The notion of abstract entities is a popular philosophical position and has been since Plato.

The Church, however, has struggled with this notion for centuries. Are abstract entities theologically appropriate? If so, how are they connected to God? Many Christian philosophers and theologians reject abstract entities on the grounds that they are inappropriate and unnecessary.

This paper argues, however, that abstract entities are critical to understanding the doctrine of the imago dei, which is vitally connected to other important doctrines such as the Incarnation and soteriology. Without abstract entities, the doctrine of the imago dei must be rejected along with its implications. Consequently, Christians should embrace abstract entities or risk great theological harm.

The full-text of this paper is available for FREE by clicking here.