Later Medieval Metaphysics: Ontology, Language, and Logic

3. The Form of Corporeity and Potential and Aptitudinal Being in Dietrich von Freiberg’s Defense of the Doctrine of the Unity of Substantial Form

This chapter covers form and matter in humans, as discussed by Dietrich von Freiberg (1250-1310). Do humans have many substantial forms (rationality, animality, corporeity), or is there only one that encompasses all of them? At death, does one's corpse still retain the same substantial form(s) it had before while living? In investigating numerous arguments given by Dietrich and his opponents, including those of Aquinas and Giles of Rome (1243/7-1316), this chapter explores issues concerning personal identity, change, and unity.