Abstract In De principiis and his homilies on Genesis Origen explores the role of animals within the divine order of creation. While animals and humans are equipped with different abilities, the key distinction lies in humanity’s capacity for rational moral choice. This endows humans with responsibility, making them superior only in accepting this duty. Origen’s interpretations, drawing on philosophy and allegorical readings of Genesis, emphasize the goodness of animals as part of God’s creation and their moral neutrality. His focus is less on human superiority and more on demonstrating God’s benevolence and the role of creation in supporting human salvation.
Helene Hild (Fri,) studied this question.