What is the Soul?What is the Soul?

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

8 December 20108 December 2010

Basic QuestionsBasic Questions

• When asking about the soul’s nature, it When asking about the soul’s nature, it helps to start with basic questions…helps to start with basic questions…something like “Where is it?”something like “Where is it?”– Is it in your head? Heart? Pinky?Is it in your head? Heart? Pinky?

• Clearly, the soul isn’t something you can Clearly, the soul isn’t something you can grab Mortal Kombat-stylegrab Mortal Kombat-style

• But how can we be sure it exists if we But how can we be sure it exists if we can’t find it? can’t find it?

• To solve this puzzle for ourselves, we need To solve this puzzle for ourselves, we need to look at what constitutes a human beingto look at what constitutes a human being

MonismMonism• Our first school of thought today is Our first school of thought today is monismmonism, ,

which holds that everything is made out of the which holds that everything is made out of the same thing – no blending between anythingsame thing – no blending between anything

• This “thing” could be matter, could be energy, This “thing” could be matter, could be energy, could be thought – but whatever we’re made of is could be thought – but whatever we’re made of is uniformuniform

• In other words, there would be no separation In other words, there would be no separation between the “spiritual” and the “physical” – between the “spiritual” and the “physical” – monists believe that everything is built from the monists believe that everything is built from the same blockssame blocks

• As beings in existence, we’re subject to the same As beings in existence, we’re subject to the same principle: humans are either going to be all principle: humans are either going to be all spiritual or all physicalspiritual or all physical

MaterialistsMaterialists• There are two subset of thought that, There are two subset of thought that,

when combined, form the monist school when combined, form the monist school (think of coins and their faces)(think of coins and their faces)

• We’ll assign “heads” to the We’ll assign “heads” to the MaterialistsMaterialists, , who believed that who believed that everythingeverything is physical – is physical – the energy/matter continuum, essentiallythe energy/matter continuum, essentially

• In this case, “thought” would not be In this case, “thought” would not be something that’s “intangible” – it’s a real, something that’s “intangible” – it’s a real, tangible electrical signal, carried from tangible electrical signal, carried from physical neuron to physical neuronphysical neuron to physical neuron

• Since nothing is intangible – and the soul Since nothing is intangible – and the soul would seem to be – the Materialists argue would seem to be – the Materialists argue we don’t have themwe don’t have them

Materialist FistfightsMaterialist Fistfights• There’s some disagreement among materialists, There’s some disagreement among materialists,

however, on what constitutes a human beinghowever, on what constitutes a human being– We’ll only concentrate on two sub-subsets (?) in the We’ll only concentrate on two sub-subsets (?) in the

interest of timeinterest of time• Eliminative materialistsEliminative materialists take a hard line take a hard line• ““Thought” doesn’t exist, nor does sensation. Thought” doesn’t exist, nor does sensation.

Everything is just an electric event in your brain, Everything is just an electric event in your brain, and all events are made of the same “stuff.”and all events are made of the same “stuff.”– Nothing that happens brain-wise is distinctNothing that happens brain-wise is distinct

• Reductive materialistsReductive materialists are gentler – they admit are gentler – they admit thought exists – but they also reduce it to an thought exists – but they also reduce it to an electric eventelectric event

• Basically, materialists argue that we’re just Basically, materialists argue that we’re just “stuff,” and there’s no mysterious or mystical “stuff,” and there’s no mysterious or mystical “soul” in us because we’re uniform and thus “soul” in us because we’re uniform and thus indivisibleindivisible

Uniform Blocks of StuffUniform Blocks of Stuff• If materialist monists (say that five times If materialist monists (say that five times

fast!) have the right idea – that we’re fast!) have the right idea – that we’re uniform blocks of “stuff” – we can’t be uniform blocks of “stuff” – we can’t be divided into bodies and soulsdivided into bodies and souls

• Since we can’t be divided, we can’t Since we can’t be divided, we can’t release anything separate when we dierelease anything separate when we die

• Also, if a soul’s not put in at birth, a soul’s Also, if a soul’s not put in at birth, a soul’s not leaving when we dienot leaving when we die

• ““There was a time when we were not: this There was a time when we were not: this gives us no concern — why then should it gives us no concern — why then should it trouble us that a time will come when we trouble us that a time will come when we shall cease to be?”shall cease to be?”

William HazlittWilliam Hazlitt

IdealistsIdealists

• We’ll assign “tails” to the We’ll assign “tails” to the IdealistsIdealists, , who believed that the only things who believed that the only things that exist are minds and ideas; that exist are minds and ideas; anything that seems physical instead anything that seems physical instead is simply a mental projectionis simply a mental projection

• Whereas we were nothing but Whereas we were nothing but physical forms earlier, we’re nothing physical forms earlier, we’re nothing butbut souls now souls now

• This body is not a body; my eyes This body is not a body; my eyes aren’t being used; it’s all in my headaren’t being used; it’s all in my head

DualistsDualists• We talked about the materialists and idealists as We talked about the materialists and idealists as

representing two sides of a coinrepresenting two sides of a coin• DualistsDualists, as you might guess, just grab the whole , as you might guess, just grab the whole

coin; they hold that both bodies (physical “stuff”) and coin; they hold that both bodies (physical “stuff”) and minds (mental/spiritual “stuff”) can existminds (mental/spiritual “stuff”) can exist

• Dualists can account for our inability to sense the soul Dualists can account for our inability to sense the soul by proposing what amounts to a parallel realityby proposing what amounts to a parallel reality

• Our bodies exist in this reality/plane of existence, Our bodies exist in this reality/plane of existence, while our souls exist in another one – one that’s while our souls exist in another one – one that’s perfectly laid over our own and runs at exactly the perfectly laid over our own and runs at exactly the same speedsame speed

• We’re linked together in time, if not in physical spaceWe’re linked together in time, if not in physical space• When we talk about “minds,” we’re not talking about When we talk about “minds,” we’re not talking about

the physical brain – we’re talking about that which the physical brain – we’re talking about that which animates itanimates it

Double Reality!!! (Cries)Double Reality!!! (Cries)• If you like the concept of human beings as If you like the concept of human beings as

combinations – a fusion of body and soul – you’re combinations – a fusion of body and soul – you’re also accepting the idea of a “double reality” (the also accepting the idea of a “double reality” (the seen and unseen)seen and unseen)

• For that matter, you might buy into “double For that matter, you might buy into “double reality” without being a dualist at heartreality” without being a dualist at heart

• First, you propose that a human being is one First, you propose that a human being is one thing – not a body component and soul thing – not a body component and soul component, but one whole objectcomponent, but one whole object

• Second, you propose that some “omni force” – a Second, you propose that some “omni force” – a god or gods – operates beyond your range of god or gods – operates beyond your range of sensory perceptionsensory perception

• It affects your life, it can help you, it can sense It affects your life, it can help you, it can sense you – but you can’t see ityou – but you can’t see it

• In other words, we are “stuff,” and the “omni In other words, we are “stuff,” and the “omni force” is something elseforce” is something else

InteractionistsInteractionists• While the dualist school has subsets as While the dualist school has subsets as

well, we’ll only concentrate on a single well, we’ll only concentrate on a single subset today, as the others have fallen by subset today, as the others have fallen by the wayside a bitthe wayside a bit

• InteractionismInteractionism (and (and InteractionistsInteractionists) ) believe “minds” and “bodies” exist believe “minds” and “bodies” exist somewhat separately, but can influence – somewhat separately, but can influence – and interact with – each otherand interact with – each other

• Sometimes, a bodily action can influence a Sometimes, a bodily action can influence a mental one; at other times, the mental one; at other times, the relationship is reversedrelationship is reversed– Physical Physical Mental / Spiritual (at times) and Mental / Spiritual (at times) and

Mental / Spiritual Mental / Spiritual Physical (at other times) Physical (at other times)

A Helpful/Painful ExampleA Helpful/Painful Example

• I’m walking along, thinking to myself about the I’m walking along, thinking to myself about the lecture I’m going to write when I go homelecture I’m going to write when I go home

• Suddenly, I stumble on a tree root!Suddenly, I stumble on a tree root!• I’m not paying attention, so I’m not prepared for I’m not paying attention, so I’m not prepared for

this change in circumstancethis change in circumstance• I stumbleI stumble• I throw my arms out to the sideI throw my arms out to the side• Eventually, I hit the deck; my head doesn’t get Eventually, I hit the deck; my head doesn’t get

knocked around, but I bounce my knee against knocked around, but I bounce my knee against the ground sharply enough to cry out in painthe ground sharply enough to cry out in pain

• I look around to make sure no one noticed my I look around to make sure no one noticed my tumbletumble

• I push myself up, shake my knee a little, and limp I push myself up, shake my knee a little, and limp awayaway

What Just Happened?What Just Happened?• My body can influence my mind; if I stumble over a My body can influence my mind; if I stumble over a

tree root, I’m not going to keep pursuing my train of tree root, I’m not going to keep pursuing my train of thoughtthought

• When my foot first made contact with the root, I lost When my foot first made contact with the root, I lost my balance (Physical my balance (Physical Physical) Physical)

• However, when I started stumbling, my brain However, when I started stumbling, my brain essentially “emptied” – I seized up with panic and essentially “emptied” – I seized up with panic and thought only of how to keep myself from being thought only of how to keep myself from being injured (Physical injured (Physical Mental / Spiritual) Mental / Spiritual)

• My brain registered discomfort even though I didn’t My brain registered discomfort even though I didn’t hit it (Physical hit it (Physical Mental / Spiritual) Mental / Spiritual)

• I cried out in pain (Physical I cried out in pain (Physical Mental/Spiritual Mental/Spiritual Physical)Physical)

• I looked around, embarrassed, then pushed myself up I looked around, embarrassed, then pushed myself up and left (Mental/Spiritual and left (Mental/Spiritual Physical) Physical)

• Can my soul be “bruised”? Can it suffer injuries Can my soul be “bruised”? Can it suffer injuries through interactions with the physical world?through interactions with the physical world?

Secret ComponentsSecret Components• Are you more than what can be sensed?Are you more than what can be sensed?• If you aren’t, how did you even conceive of a If you aren’t, how did you even conceive of a

“soul”?“soul”?– It’s not like anyone believes they have “secret physical” It’s not like anyone believes they have “secret physical”

componentscomponents• If you are, which part is more important – which If you are, which part is more important – which

part lives your life?part lives your life?• When I feel emotional pain, what exactly is When I feel emotional pain, what exactly is

hurting? How am I generating pain? (Chemicals?)hurting? How am I generating pain? (Chemicals?)• Is what goes on in my head – my consciousness Is what goes on in my head – my consciousness

and thoughts – different from my soul?and thoughts – different from my soul?• Descartes said no – he felt that the mind and Descartes said no – he felt that the mind and

spirit combined to form the “theatre of spirit combined to form the “theatre of consciousness and conscious experience”consciousness and conscious experience”

Infinite PossibilitiesInfinite Possibilities• These questions go to the heart of our earlier These questions go to the heart of our earlier

explorations of choice and moralityexplorations of choice and morality• If we’re just programmed by cells and chemistry, If we’re just programmed by cells and chemistry,

are our “infinite possibilities” actually limited – are our “infinite possibilities” actually limited – at a sub-molecular level?at a sub-molecular level?

• As you can imagine, monists and dualists can’t As you can imagine, monists and dualists can’t reach common ground here, and they don’t take reach common ground here, and they don’t take too kindly to one anothertoo kindly to one another

• The monists believe that we are complex – but The monists believe that we are complex – but uniform – beingsuniform – beings

• The dualists believed the opposite – that we’re The dualists believed the opposite – that we’re divided at a metaphysical level, and that there’s divided at a metaphysical level, and that there’s something to us that we aren’t seeingsomething to us that we aren’t seeing

21 Grams21 Grams

• If we’re living in a dualist existence, the If we’re living in a dualist existence, the Hazlitt quote is still worth ponderingHazlitt quote is still worth pondering

• None of us can remember a time before None of us can remember a time before our birthsour births

• What was our soul doing before then?What was our soul doing before then?– Where does the river begin?Where does the river begin?

• Where do we go after – if there’s Where do we go after – if there’s anywhere to go?anywhere to go?– Where does the river end?Where does the river end?– Duncan MacDougall and “21 Grams”Duncan MacDougall and “21 Grams”

• Does the river ever freeze?Does the river ever freeze?

Which Matters More?Which Matters More?• If the soul can’t be changed, character If the soul can’t be changed, character

and personality certainly canand personality certainly can– This would indicate that soul and character are This would indicate that soul and character are

separateseparate• If the soul can’t be changed, is it more If the soul can’t be changed, is it more

important than our character – our self-important than our character – our self-constructed personas, the ones that we constructed personas, the ones that we shift in accordance with the experiences shift in accordance with the experiences and knowledge we gain throughout our and knowledge we gain throughout our lives?lives?

• Which one governs our behavior? Are my Which one governs our behavior? Are my mind, soul, and character somehow mind, soul, and character somehow separate? separate? – (That’s a lot of overlapping realities if you’re a (That’s a lot of overlapping realities if you’re a

dualist…)dualist…)

The First Questions I AskedThe First Questions I Asked

• For that matter, if souls can’t be changed, why For that matter, if souls can’t be changed, why bother being good? Your soul’s going to be the bother being good? Your soul’s going to be the same anywaysame anyway

• Is it a matter of fearing the karmic Is it a matter of fearing the karmic consequences? Are we afraid something bad will consequences? Are we afraid something bad will happen to our souls after we die regardless of happen to our souls after we die regardless of whether the soul was “responsible”?whether the soul was “responsible”?

• In In What is Morality?, What is Morality?, I made the same point I made the same point about a dozen times: our morals provide a about a dozen times: our morals provide a scaffold in order to stop us from behaving scaffold in order to stop us from behaving (naturally) badly(naturally) badly

• What would have motivated that awful “natural” What would have motivated that awful “natural” behavior, however? Our souls? behavior, however? Our souls?

• If not, why would our soul’s eventual fate depend If not, why would our soul’s eventual fate depend on what we do here?on what we do here?

• Are we defined by who we are or what we do?Are we defined by who we are or what we do?