In what sense do plants and animals, as well as humans, have souls? What is the difference between these types of souls?.
Defined by the Merriam-Webster English Dictionary, a soul is the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life. It is also described as the spiritual principle embodied in beings and an active or essential part to every being in the universe. For the purpose of this philosophical view on the soul, we will not only focus on this commonly accepted definition, but we will also focus on the definition that philosophers have clung to over the years. A philosopher states that the soul is "the vitalizing principle by which a thing is able to perform activities which we associate with being alive." Philosophers further narrow their definition down to describing the functions of vital activity to the "minimum powers of nutrition, growth, and reproduction." Although it is not always easy to draw a line between something living and non-living, such as the example of a virus, it is easy to determine through rationalization that plants, animals, and men do indeed have souls. Because it is easier to observe humans because we understand them so well, it is also easier to focus in on the presence of the human soul.
When we look at plants, animals, and human beings, we see an upwards climb in order and capability. With that upwards climb in capability comes a scheme of different kinds of souls. Obviously, plants are less ordered than animals, which are in turn less ordered than human beings, the most civilized being of the three. The animal soul is different than the plant soul because an animal possesses the "powers of sensation and movement from place to place," while a plant is helpless to such voluntary changes. The human soul is different than the animal soul because a human possesses the "powers of intellect and will." .
Sometimes a very difficult concept to grasp, but the easiest of the three, the idea of a human soul is actually very simple to understand.
A soul is something that is outside the body. A soul is not tangible, but something that exists nonetheless. A soul is something uniquely human. A soul is immortal. ... Pop culture inspires us to look for our soul mates, but is this even possible if we do not have souls? ...
Emerson and the Soul I agree with Emerson when he writes about "the soul" and his ideal that there exists a unanimous connection throughout man's value system. ... Emerson writes of the soul being the influence of God. ... The soul can change us in many ways, while it remains the same. "The soul circumscribes all things." We are never away from the influence of the soul. ...
"The Scream" was painted in the end of the 19th century, and is possibly the first Expressionist painting. The Scream was very different from the art of the time, when many artists tried to depict objective reality. Munch was a tortured soul, and it certainly showed in this painting. Most of his f...
Soul of a Dead Sitting on my bed, looking outside the window leading to where the sun was beginning to unfold its mighty wings, I was nothing but a zombie on my grand casket- my great paradise of dead dreams and decayed hopes. ... My heart had refused to feel, and I"m nothing but a senseless soul floating in the atmosphere. ... My love was gone, and gone is everything on me: gone was my heart, my spirit, my soul. ... My soul will wander and make you jubilant, because my little paradise of darkness is only mine. ... This is my destiny: TO BE THE SOUL OF A DEAD, and TO BE A DEAD WITHOUT A ...
After setting up the mood by creating a scenario where Angelou's character is first lying back and thinking about her life, she immediately goes soul searching and voices her thoughts on life. In these lines, Angelou talks about her wishes in this hunt, saying that she wants to find her "soul a home" (3) "Where water is not thirsty And bread loaf is not stone"(4-5). ... These two lines are an irregular use of diction, suggesting that this person's soul is lost. The protagonist's life could potentially be upside-down and she is stuck in an alternate universe...
The human soul and immortality is one of the most debated philosophies among religions. While many religions believe that the soul lives on after death, many believe that death ends all. My beliefs as a Muslim shape my philosophy on the soul and immortality. I believe the soul to be a spirit created by God for each and every human being. ... After this life, the soul will be returned to the Creator. ...
In the Phaedo, Socrates friends suggest that the soul may perish. Socrates believes that the soul is immortal and if a person detaches himself from the physical pleasures of the world his soul may become free to follow the gods into Hades. ... The soul, says Socrates, rules over the body. However, the body may deceive the soul through the senses. ... If the soul relies too heavily on the senses, then it may start to value the physical realm more than the knowledge that comes from the soul. ...
The film is "Body and Soul", and it is truly one of the most inspiring and dignifying classics I have ever seen. Written by the legend, Abraham Polonsky, "Body and Soul" is one of those movies that makes you look at yourself and question your own relationships, before you get too wrapped up in things of less importance, such as money. ... "Body and Soul" harnesses the idea of a great film and displays it beautifully. ... As opposed to films such as "Body and Soul" that reveal the characters inner feelings and give us the satisfaction of watching the reunion of the subjects of conflict. I ...
