The Place of Relation in the Constitution of the Human Person

Many Christian-oriented philosophers also attempt to define the human person in terms of relation. This effort is obviously based on Trinitarian theology. But this approach is difficult to defend. The human person is located in categorical dimensions, as is “relation” or “substance.” The Holy Trinity, however, is beyond categorical terms. Here we do not even make do with mere analogy; even a so-called reduction is required here. In the real, created, categorial being, however, a relation (categorial or transcendent) can never retroactively establish its subject. On the contrary, the relation is its effect. Also interesting are the two versions of Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate of 2009, especially the Latin original.