Concept of Death in Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

The present article undertakes an analysis of the concept of death in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, rigorously examining its assumptions and normative limits. The central issue questions death as the end of life and the mere materiality of the human being, seeking to reinterpret our own understanding of death from the Thomistic perspective. In order to scrutinize the exposed demand, firstly, an in-depth investigation is carried out on the concepts of soul and body in human life, highlighting their interrelations and philosophical implications. Subsequently, a meticulous analysis of the concept of death as corruption of substance is presented, based on the Aristotelian metaphysical perspective, aiming, ultimately, to examine the philosophical implications resulting from death in the view of Thomas Aquinas, with special emphasis on the consideration of the incorruptibility of the intellectual soul. We assert, in this way, that it is possible to provide a genuine and contemporary theoretical understanding of this theme, aiming to enrich philosophical debate and stimulate a critical reflection on the nature of human existence.