nature and existence of soul

nature and existence of soul

1. Nature

   • Incorporeal (without material form)
   • immortal essence of a person
   • Aristotle - sol was not a distinct substance from the body. the soul is closer to the idea of a life force
   • Aquinas - the soul animates the body and gives it life

2. Existence

   • Plato
     • The 'use' argument
       • a user differs from what is used
         • A human being uses his/her body
           • therefore a human being must be different from the body
             • a person is either a body or a soul. therefore a person must be a soul
     • the 'recollection argument
       • things in the world of senses are not perfect. eg: beautful things are not absolutely beautiful
         • we would not have this certainty if we did not already know what absolute beauty is
           • therefore we must know absolute beauty innately
             • therefore we must have lived before birth
     • the 'opposites' argument
       • in nature we observe cycles of opposites eg hot -> cold etc
         • reasonable to suppose that when we die, we will be transformed into something else.