This past week, the Holy Father spoke at the European Symposium of University Professors, urging them to renew their philosophical search for truth. He explained that an examination of the person is especially important.

I think there are many people who would not disagree with the traditional definition of man as “rational animal,” if they were presented with the term. Of course, many would want to clarify the meaning of “rational,” but many would be satisfied with it as it stands. We are animals – part of an ecosystem, evolved to the point of self-consciousness and rationality. Or at least the rationalization of our actions.

I don’t think this is enough. We have to examine the person in light of what we know theologically, rather than just biologically. We’re not made in the image of lower animals – we are made in the image of God, and lower animals reflect us – and Him – according to their species. We can’t project our self-knowledge from the knowledge we have of bacteria. We must deduce it from our knowledge of God. Though we are infinitely less than Him, sinful and imperfect, we are infinitely more than the most complex non-personal being that exists.

Pope Benedict explained that “Modernity is not simply a historically-datable cultural phenomenon; in reality it requires a new focus, a more exact understanding of the nature of man.” We can’t say that our culture is going through a stage, and expect modern ideas to “go away” – we must address them to the best of our ability. We must answer the questions brought up by our friends and neighbours, even if we think these questions are basic, boring, or badly thought out. By doing so, we will go beyond the definitions that are good enough for those of us with a Christian philosophical background, and start to reach definitions that come closer to identifying and delineating what we define.

The doctrine of the Catholic Church is like a sculpture: little by little, the Church defines and rejects heresy, just as a sculptor chisels off the unwanted marble. What is left is a beautiful and flawlessly united piece of work. Philosophy is a little like theology in that way: if we keep at it, we will come closer to the truth, by knocking off the imperfect definitions and sloppy thought.

Pope Benedict proposed that we renew our study of the human person. This doesn’t mean only tenured professors or ToB experts – it means all of us, when we read the National Geographic (or the rather less aggressive Canadian Geographic), when we consider what our government is drafting as ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’ of human persons, and when we deal with our own inclination to sin. We must realize that we are more than animals, not only intellectually, but in the actions we choose.