Destined for Liberty

This work offers an introduction to John Paul II's theory of the human person. The development of Karol Wojtyla's theology is developed - from his lesser-known writings such as ""The Lublin Lectures"" - to his more popular writings ""Love and Responsibility"" and ""The Acting Person"". The author finds that Wojtyla is a consistent thinker. Unlike many of his contemporaries, his thought has never undergone any intellectual revolution or change. His earlier writings thus make possible a fuller appreciation of the more popular texts and Papal encyclicals. The mystical theology of St John of the Cross, the thought of St Thomas Aquinas, and modern phenomemology (especially that of Max Scheler) is examined. Among the key anthropological concepts presented and analyzed are: ethical values and human freedom; the relation between freedom and truth, the conscience and consciousness; the human body; and the process of human recognition.