阿奎那论神学与丰盛人生

本讲座将探讨阿奎那关于神学和丰盛人生的论证。对阿奎那而言，神学不仅是绞尽脑汁的学术训练，而是人享受更完满的存在的经历，也是人为了以后亲自见神而做的准备。

阿奎那的幸福观有其形而上学和神学的基础。从形而上学的角度看，“存在”与“善”的概念相互解释，所以丰盛就等于存在的不断实现和完善。从神学的角度看，人性的完善是取决于人与神在理智和意志上的联合，而这联合与圣子的受生和圣灵的发出有相似的结构。我们最后也将考虑这观点的实践意义。

阿奎那的观点能帮助我们克服脑心分裂并解决自我牺牲与自我实现的张力，这分裂和张力常使信徒对神学和幸福的内涵产生误解。

This talk will present Aquinas’ argument for the importance of theology for human flourishing. Instead of viewing theology as cerebral gymnastics for mastering Christian dogmas, for Aquinas, doing theology is like experiencing the fullness of being that anticipates the beatific vision.

Aquinas’ view of human flourishing has its metaphysical and theological underpinnings. Metaphysically, the concepts of ‘being’ and ‘goodness’ are interchangeable, so that flourishing is defined through the actualization of being, which radiates perfection. Theologically, humanity is perfected by union with God through intellect and will, which structurally reflects the Trinitarian processions of the Word and the Spirit. We will close by considering some practical impacts of this view.

Aquinas’s view can help overcome the brain-heart split, as well as the tension between self-denial and self-fulfillment, both of which have caused Christian misgivings of theology and happiness.