Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 13:1 (Spring 2022)
Article: The Ordered Animal: Accountability, Teleology, And Human Nature
Author: Jordan L. Steffaniak

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The Ordered Animal: Accountability, Teleology, And Human Nature

Jordan Steffaniak

University of Birmingham, UK

Abstract: What does it mean to be human? Recently, a new proposal has suggested that the human is an accountable animal. In this essay, I contend that this account can be broadened and strengthened by arguing that the human is an ordered animal. By “ordered” I mean that humans are directed toward specific ends within a twofold hierarchical matrix. They are ordered to their creator and ordered to creation. While such a framework is not exhaustive it can serve to ground and organize speaking well about human persons. To demonstrate this, I first summarize the recent work of Brendan Case on the “accountable animal.” Second, I show how four separate resources, ranging from Reformed covenant theology to Aristotelian teleology, can serve to buttress and expand Case’s argument to what I call the ordered animal. With these resources, I seek to show how the ordered animal can provide a robust and flexible foundation for further theological formulation.

Key Words: accountability, Christology, covenant, human nature, teleology

What does it mean to be human? Candidate definitions abound: The human is a rational animal, a political animal, a language animal, etc. Recently, a new proposal has suggested that the human is an accountable animal.1 I contend that this account can be broadened and strengthened by arguing that the human is an ordered animal. By “ordered” I mean that humans are directed toward specific ends within a twofold hierarchical matrix. They are ordered to their creator and ordered to creation. While such a framework is not exhaustive it can serve to ground and organize speaking well about human persons. To prove this, I first summarize the recent work of Brendan Case on the “accountable animal.” Second, I show how four separate resources, ranging from Reformed covenant theology to Aristotelian teleology, can serve to buttress and expand Case’s argument to what I call the ordered animal. Each resource will strengthen various aspects of Case’s proposal and provide the portrait of the ordered

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animal as a robust model for what it means to be human.

An initial precautionary word is in order about the scope of my thesis. While I certainly intend to argue for a robust model, it remains a model, nonetheless. Theological models are distinct from dogmatic or doctrinal declarations that would either be cardinal dogmas of the faith or confessional doctrines of the church. A model only approximates to the truth of the ...