The Soul

[de_budding]

Pyth,
Is there anything in or about yourself that you recognised as your soul?
What is the purpose and implications of your soul?
Dan.

[Pythagorean]

Dan,

I subscribe to Plato's theory of the human soul. Philosophy is according to Plato the care of one's soul. And the purpose of the soul is beauty and knowledge; to discover beauty and truth, that is its end.

I'll be so bold as to speak for Plato himself and say that there is no philosophy without recognition of the soul; without the soul there is mere sophistry.

As for my soul, I can't give a personal account for I don't posess such descriptive abilities at present. Even if I did (there are some notes that I have as well as some old posts here on the site), I would not be able to share them with a general audience too easily as it would be so pollitically incorrect as you can see.

Many great writers have included descriptions of the human soul within their art. I mean writers of novels and poetry. Anyone who reads the classics will know this of course. I would definitely suggest reading the classics to get such descriptions. Plato is a good start.

good luck

--Pyth

[Aedes]

I'm as immersed in science as one can be, but I would never take Nameless' tact here. Sure, science makes no stipulation about the soul, though it hardly matters since everyone has a different definition of it. But something doesn't have to be physically real to be important. We can think of parts of ourselves allegorically and still hold them important. There are things I do, like my photography, that I could say 'feed my soul'. It may just be an arcane metaphor for "an enriching activity that gives me relaxation and satisfaction", but that sterilizes the concept. Whether or not the soul exists independently of us, or is merely a figurative element of who we are, really doesn't alter how we think of it (at least in a living person).

And while we could disagree about what happens to the soul after death, that's similarly outside the interest of science and more pertinent to one's hopes, fears, and religious beliefs.

[Khethil]

Originally Posted by Pythagorean

I was quite surprised to discover that in fact the soul is real...

Pythagorean,

I'm curious; would you mind expounding on this a bit? How did you make this discovery? What elements were involved, etc.

[boagie]

Is not the burden of proof on the person making the claim? If there is no proof, it should then not be claimed-------and to expect respect in the same breath, is pushing the evelope. The immortal soul does have poetic licence only to play with our sentiments. Poetry and philosophy don't mix well.

[Didymos Thomas]

Is not the burden of proof on the person making the claim? If there is no proof, it should then not be claimed-------and to expect respect in the same breath, is pushing the evelope.

You are right that burden of proof rests on the claimant. But what do we consider 'proof'?

The immortal soul does have poetic licence only to play with our sentiments. Poetry and philosophy don't mix well.

Emerson and Whitman come to mind.

[Ramsey]

Could this soul become material with the advent of Quantum Mechanics? Does this not give some form to a soul?

Just throwing in a talking point there.

[boagie]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

You are right that burden of proof rests on the claimant. But what do we consider 'proof'?

Emerson and Whitman come to mind.

Proof, but of so many definations

Point taken on Emerson, not real familar with Whitman.

[Didymos Thomas]

Point taken on Emerson, not real familar with Whitman.

Whitman is considered by many to be the American poet.

Point being that not only do poetry and philosophy seem to mix, but that they also inform one another. A poet without consideration for philosophy isn't much of a poet. And if I recall correctly, it was George Santayana who highly prized the beauty of philosophy.

As for the issue of proof, I asked because often times we encounter claims that can neither be supported nor undercut by evidence - in that no evidence exists to either confirm or deny the claim.

[boagie]

"As for the issue of proof, I asked because often times we encounter claims that can neither be supported nor undercut by evidence - in that no evidence exists to either confirm or deny the claim."Quote

Thomas,

Would not logic assume then, that the claim should not have been made. Many such claims and the individual making them would be taken for town fool.