The making of human dignity in Christian antiquity

The book examines the late ancient history of one pivotal concept of contemporary culture, that of human dignity, with the view to identifying the moment in history when European culture worked out a systematic category for human axiological status. Whereas some studies concentrate on the notion of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Guerrero van der Meijden, Jadwiga (Author)
Format: Electronic Book
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
WorldCat: WorldCat
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: Paderborn Brill | Schöningh [2024]
In: Contexts of ancient and medieval anthropology (vol. 9)
Year: 2024
Series/Journal:Contexts of ancient and medieval anthropology vol. 9
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Human dignity / Theological anthropology / Patristic theology / History
B Human dignity / Theological anthropology / History 300-1500
Further subjects:B Human Dignity
B microcosm
B patristic anthropology
B Image of God
B dignitas hominis
B European culture
B early medieval anthropology
B know thyself
B gnothi seauton
Online Access: Cover
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Rights Information:CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The book examines the late ancient history of one pivotal concept of contemporary culture, that of human dignity, with the view to identifying the moment in history when European culture worked out a systematic category for human axiological status. Whereas some studies concentrate on the notion of dignity in the Renaissance, suggesting that the earlier Christian thought emphasized human insignificance, this analysis reveals that it was the patristic writers who undertook the decisive rethinking of human dignity, primarily in light of the incarnation and the introduction of the feast of Christmas. The volume traces the transformation of the culturally prevalent ancient maxim of self-knowledge (“know thyself”) into an axiological appeal (“know thy dignity”), claiming that it was within that tradition that “dignitas hominis” was popularized and entered the European mindset. In order to demonstrate the lasting changes, the volume outlines patristic axiology’s reception in the Middle Ages.
Physical Description:1 Online-Ressource (XII, 294 Seiten)
ISBN:978-3-657-79670-0