Tenderness: Outlining the Anthropological Perspective of Femininity

Abstract

The article “Tenderness: Outlining the Anthropological Perspective of Femininity” is written from the point of view of Philosophical Anthropology and outlines the outlines tenderness as particular feature which characterizes femininity and a special way of communicating the truth. In the hermeneutical reading of the story of Creation in Genesis and Plato’s Symposium the author shows that image of original unity of man and woman is deeply rooted in human nature. In the reading of John Paul II’s Apostolic letter Mulieris dignitatem tenderness of femininity is featured as divine gift. Article examines how the lack of tenderness deprives the sacredness from sexual relations causing alienation. Following the idea of French philosopher Ricoeur it claims that returning the sacred force to sexuality it becomes penetrated by the reciprocity of gift, so that self-centred eroticism is transformed with tenderness and sacredness of mystery of Love.