reference to the content of Christian revelation, they clearly intend to provide a philosophical

foundation for Rahner's interpretation of the core revealed truth, that humanity is constituted by
the Divine Self communication.6
In Rahner's view all humanity exists in a supernatural condition. Thus, philosophy can never be
an analysis of nature apart from revelatory grace.7 Philosophy deals with human mystery, a
mystery rooted in God presence. All philosophy is involved in theology, even though
philosophers may be explicitly aware of it.8 In his philosophical works Rahner treats human
transcendence in knowledge and freedom, arguing that a relationship with God is implicit in this
transcendence as its necessary horizon. His theological writings then reflect on the implicitly
theological dimensions of the human experience in view of revelation.9 In short, Rahnee's
fundamental ontology becomes his fundamental theology. 10
In his philosophy Rohner carries on the dialogue, initiated by Joseph Marechal, between the
thought of Aquinas and modern German philosophy.11 The thought of the early Heidegger is an
important element in this dialogue and therefore in Rahner's fundamental theology. 12
Following Heidegger, Rahner approaches the meaning of being through an analysis of that being
for whom being is a question.13 His fundamental ontology is a philosophical anthropology,14 a
fundamental ontology carried out an interpretation of St. Thomas.
In spirit in the World , 15 and part two of Hearers of the Word, Rahner's confronts the
philosophy of metaphysics and of a rational theology, 16 if all knowledge is grounded in sensual
intuition, how is metaphysics possible? Using a Heideggerian hermeneutic of retrieval, explores
possibilities within Aquinas' thought to respond to the Kantian problematic. He is not concerned
how the scholastic tradition has interpreted Thomas , but is seeking here to fore unrecognized
possibilities in Aquinas' thought. 17 He puts a question of Kant's to Aquinas which Thomas did
not explicitly ask.
Exploiting a Heideggerian insight and term,

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