Corpus, caro y anima, en la concepción del hombre de Tertuliano

Abstract

This paper deals with Tertullian’s conception of man in the context of the previous apologetic tradition. Such as Justin of Rome and Irenaeus of Lyons did before, Tertullian assumes a positive consideration of the human body –properly the flesh–. The author sometimes presents it as the primordial element of human definition. However, he also pays special attention to the soul as a fundamental aspect of human constitution. In order to identify whether one of these aspects prevails ontologically over the other in his anthropological thought, we first analyze the concepts of corpus, caro and anima developed by Tertullian in De anima. Then we will make some references to Adversus Marcionem. Finally our conclusion suggests that tertullian´s anthropological approach reflects a unitary conception of man which includes both the flesh and the soul.