Philosophy and Theology

Volume 27, Issue 1, 2015

Joshua R. Farris
Pages 107-126

Substance Dualism and Theological Anthropology
A Theological Argument for a Simple View of Persons

Currently, there remains an aversion for substance dualism in both philosophical and theological literature. However, there has been a renewed interest in substance dualism within philosophical literature. In the present article, I advance substance dualism as a viable position that persuasively accounts for the Scriptural and theological data within Christian thought. I make a specific argument in favor of a metaphysically simple substance. Along the way, I note the overlap between the philosophical and theological literature and suggest that a simple soul as substance is a metaphysical presupposition grounding the data.