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Mercy and Self Gift Susan Waldstein MERCY AND SELF GIFT Exploring the Implicit Connections between Charles De Koninck’s Evolutionary Biology and Theological Principles Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Theology of the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) for the Degree of Doctor in Theology Directed by Prof. Michael Sherwin, O.P. April 2013 This thesis has been approved by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland on 28 May 2013 on the recommendation of: Prof. Michael S. Sherwin, O.P. (1st Reader) Prof. Thierry Collaud (2nd Reader) Prof. Franz Mali (Dean) ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter One: The Scientific Point of View .......................................................................... 7 1. Introduction to The Cosmos .............................................................................................. 7 2. The Necessity of Evolution ............................................................................................... 9 3. The Division between Scientific and Philosophic Point of View ................................... 11 4. Examining the Scientific Evidence for Evolution ........................................................... 15 A. Cosmic Evolution....................................................................................................... 15 B. Nebulae and Stellar Evolution.................................................................................... 16 C. Planetary Evolution .................................................................................................... 17 D. Chemical Evolution ................................................................................................... 17 E. Evolution of Life ........................................................................................................ 18 F. Organization and Spontaneity..................................................................................... 20 G. Theories of Biological Evolution ............................................................................... 22 H. Evolution after Man ................................................................................................... 28 5. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter Two: The Philosophical Point of View: The Ontological Mechanism............... 31 1. Philosophical Groundwork ............................................................................................. 34 A. Nature and Becoming ................................................................................................ 35 B. Time ........................................................................................................................... 35 C. Generation and Corruption ......................................................................................... 36 D. Individual and Species ............................................................................................... 37 E. Space .......................................................................................................................... 42 F. Matter and Form ......................................................................................................... 43 G. Philosophical Principles Useful for Understanding Evolution .................................. 44 2. Man: The raison d’être of the Cosmos ............................................................................ 48 A. Argument from Mobile Being ................................................................................... 49 B. Argument from Matter ............................................................................................... 52 C. Argument from Natural Forms ................................................................................... 57 D. Argument from Nature: Intrinsic Principle of Motion ............................................... 61 E. Man: Goal of the Cosmos as Individual or Species? .................................................. 64 F. Excursus on Creationism ............................................................................................ 65 3. How Can Something Higher Come From Something Lower? ....................................... 67 A. The Inorganic World: From Non-Living to Living ................................................... 67 B. The Organic World: From Lower Forms of Life to Higher ....................................... 81 C. From Animal to Man .................................................................................................. 90 4. Why is Evolution Natural? ............................................................................................ 104 5. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 118 Chapter Three: The Philosophical Point of View II: The Goals of Evolution............... 119 iii 1. Evolution: Impulse towards Thought ............................................................................ 120 A. Immateriality ............................................................................................................ 124 B. Simplicity and Unity ................................................................................................ 127 C. Immortality ............................................................................................................... 129 2. Evolution: Impulse towards Consubstantial Love ........................................................ 132 A. Gift-of-Self ............................................................................................................... 135 B. Freedom ................................................................................................................... 142 3. Evolution: Impulse towards Unity ................................................................................ 146 4. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 154 Chapter Four: The Theological Point of View ................................................................. 156 1. The Cosmos as the Work of the Trinity ........................................................................ 160 2. The Trace and Image of the Trinity in the Cosmos ...................................................... 161 3. Trace as Tendency toward Image ................................................................................. 164 4. Generation of the Word and Natural Generation .......................................................... 165 5. The Impulse of the Holy Spirit in the Maturation of the World ................................... 171 6. Divine Fruitfulness ........................................................................................................ 178 7. Reason Why De Koninck never finished or published The Cosmos ............................ 182 8. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 184 Chapter Five: Gift-of-Self and Circularity ....................................................................... 186 1. Gift-of-Self in De Koninck ........................................................................................... 186 2. Circularity ..................................................................................................................... 197 A. The First Circle: Divine Processions ....................................................................... 198 B. The Second Circle: Creation as Exitus ..................................................................... 205 C. The Second Circle, First Reditus: Man Returns to God ........................................... 217 D. The Second Circle, Second Reditus: Man Returns the Cosmos to God .................. 223 3. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 231 Chapter Six: Mercy............................................................................................................. 232 1. The Definition of Mercy ............................................................................................... 233 2. Mercy is the First Root of God’s External Acts ............................................................ 235 3. The Measure of Mercy .................................................................................................. 239 4. Mercy in Creation and the Supernatural End ................................................................ 240 A. The Lowliness of Human Nature ............................................................................. 240 B. The Height of Man’s Final End ............................................................................... 241 5. Mercy in the Incarnation ............................................................................................... 242 A. The Hypostatic Union to a Created Nature .............................................................. 243 B. The Assumption of Human Nature .......................................................................... 244 C. Passible Human Nature ............................................................................................ 246 D. Sinful ancestors
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