Philosophical Character of Dogma

The aim of this study is to characterize the philosophical conception of terms that occur in various dogmatic formulations and, at the same time, have their place in various philosophical systems. These declarations, taken from the terms of the natural ontology, are more than with any historical philosophical system co-defined with the basic principles of the philosophy of being. Considering the linguistic, logical and metaphysical contents of God's historical revelation, we find here many implicit and explicit philosophical formulations, principles and premises that are inseparable from the Revelation. If this Revelation is to have a meaningful and perpetual content, we must also presuppose the consistence of its philosophical infrastructure. It represents a kind of natural ontology, "philosophy of being", often also called philosophia perennis that guarantees the universality of the Revelation. At the same time it is the medium of communication that enables us to articulate certain statements with permanent validity, unconditioned in its content by historical development. This philosophia perennis is specific to Christian thinking and recommended by the magisterium of the Church. In the history of ideas, it found extraordinarily precise and clear expression in the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Keywords: Philosophy of being; Philosophia perennis; St. Thomas Aquinas; Language of the faith; Dogmas