The Anthropological Turnabout in the Post-Council Moral Theology

Abstract

The shape of the modern moral-theological reflection has been significantly influenced by the Second Vatican Council through its call to revive theological disciplines. Among the Council's postulates of revival of the discipline discussed in the article there was an anthropological aspect that aimed at raising the status of a man in the circle of moral problems. This resulted in post-Council theology in a distinct anthropological turnabout. The phrase „anthropological turnabout” that appeared in theology owing to Karl Rahner should be understood in the Christological way. It is only then that such anthropocentrism will be avoided that threatens horizontal tendencies in theology and the „anthropological reduction” of the Christian message. Concentration on Christology in one's approach to Christian morality may not restrict Christians' real dialog with the modern world. Modern culture is characterized by a variety of conceptions of man. In this context one has to speak about the necessity of an „argument about the man”. The most important axis of the argument runs between the integral conception of man and various reductionist visions.