Personhood is a particular form of reality — a way in which actuality (actus) realizes itself. In contrast to a static thing-being, personhood is a dynamic actuality that unfolds in three dimensions building upon one another. The first dimension is the fundamental spiritual existence (substance-being). The second dimension is conscious, free personhood (person-behavior). The third dimension is moral perfection in cognition, virtue, and love.
The first dimension is always given as long as the person exists. The second and third dimensions constitute the actualization of potencies that are grounded in substantial personhood. This threefold form of reality shows that personhood, while inalienable, is at the same time ordered toward unfolding and completion (cf. Bexten 2017, pp. 137—200).
Sources: Generated by querying the Personhood ontology.
References: Bexten 2017, pp. 231—235 (form of reality and dimensions).
Further sources:
- Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae I, q. 3, a. 4 (actus essendi as the innermost act).
- Aristotle: Metaphysics IX (energeia as actuality).
Ontological relations: (as fundamental form of reality)
- is not reducible to: Animal Substance, Vegetative Substance, Purely Material Substance
- ontologically precedes: First Dimension
- is presupposed by: First Dimension
See also: