Nicholas Humphrey at Aeon Magazine:
To start with, we do know what it is that we call soul. By tradition the soul, your soul – I’ll turn to the second person, you’ll see why as I go on – is nothing less than the spirit at the core of your being. It’s you, your conscious self, the subject of your private thoughts and feelings. It’s the person you know yourself to be – and the person other people treat you as being.
This soul of yours has obviously come into existence with your body. Yet equally obviously it’s not made of bodily stuff. It lasts through the night when your body sleeps. It wanders off and leaves your body when you dream. It does not grow old and decrepit, as your body does. It’s not unreasonable to hope it will be able to outlast your body’s death.
What’s more, contra Diderot, we do have a pretty good idea of how soul and body are united. The soul is united to the body in just the way Descartes thought it was: as an added resource, a controlling influence. The soul is intermingled with the body while you are awake, giving your life purpose and direction. But it has a life of its own. It’s able to retire and take shore leave. It can meet up with other souls, share stories and plan voyages.
more here.
Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.