Immortality of the Soul

[Socrates the Greek]

Use of the dialogue as a literary device made it easy for Plato not only to present his own position (in the voice of Socrates) but also to consider (in the voices of other characters) significant objections that might be raised against it. This doesn't mean that philosophy is merely an idle game of argument and counter-argument, he pointed out, because it remains our goal to discover the one line of argument that leads to the truth. The philosopher cautiously investigates every possibility and examines every side of an issue, precisely because that increases the chances of arriving eventually at a correct account of reality.

Thus, Simmias suggests that the relationship between the soul and the body may be like that between musical harmony and the strings of a lyre that produces it. In this case, even though the soul is significantly different from the body, it could not reasonably be expected to survive the utter destruction of that physical thing. (This is an early statement of a view of human nature that would later come to be called epiphenomenalism.) But Socrates replies that this analogy will not hold, since the soul exercises direct control over the motions of the body, as the harmony does not over those of the lyre. Plato's suggestion here seems to be that it would become impossible to provide an adequate account of human morality, of the proper standards for acting rightly, if Simmias were right.

 

[fuzzylogix]

Socrates, your words flutter around my brain like morsels of sweet-tempered heresy, illuminating but immiscible, levitating and lyrical, inciting imbroglio in this imbecile.

I know not what you say forsooth, but it is soothing.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Re: RE: Immortality of the Soul

Socrates, your words flutter around my brain like morsels of sweet-tempered heresy, illuminating but immiscible, levitating and lyrical, inciting imbroglio in this imbecile.

I know not what you say forsooth, but it is soothing.

fuzzylogix, I take it back because I too have not exercised tolerance with you. You have the right to depict anyone the way you so choose, as long as a persons dignity doesn’t get dirt thrown on it, the right to dignity is an irrevocable right. That is the beauty being citizens of Canada, because we have that right.
I do withdraw my intolerant statement.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Lighten up Socrates, all he really said was that he doesn't understand you, it certainly wasn't anything that'd justify calling him intolerant and self-serving.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

In the name of tolerance I withdraw my defensive comments to
fuzzylogix. Life is good for me.

 

[I think not]

I think you have a reading comprehension issue Socrates, read the post again.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Yep, that was a reference to himself, not to you.

 

[fuzzylogix]

In the name of tolerance I withdraw my defensive comments to
fuzzylogix. Life is good for me.

Hey Socrates! I have to say I in NO way intended any insult to you or your post!!!!! I was being quite sincere in my complete inability to debate or discuss philosophy. It is completely out of my field. I have many good friends who are extremely well read in philosophy and have numerous books. And I freely admit that it is an area that is just very abstract to me and an area I am completely out of my element in. That is not to say that I dont find the ideas extremely interesting and pertinent to human life. I respect completely peoples interest in philosophy and my post really was complimentary to your eloquent presentation of what I find very difficult topics. Sorry!

 

[Socrates the Greek]

In the name of tolerance I withdraw my defensive comments to
fuzzylogix. Life is good for me.

Hey Socrates! I have to say I in NO way intended any insult to you or your post!!!!! I was being quite sincere in my complete inability to debate or discuss philosophy. It is completely out of my field. I have many good friends who are extremely well read in philosophy and have numerous books. And I freely admit that it is an area that is just very abstract to me and an area I am completely out of my element in. That is not to say that I dont find the ideas extremely interesting and pertinent to human life. I respect completely peoples interest in philosophy and my post really was complimentary to your eloquent presentation of what I find very difficult topics. Sorry!

God morning fuzzylogix I respect your reply post and forgive me for my defences while I had difficulty understanding some of the words assembled on your post. No worry life is good. People like you and me make the world a colourful place.
Cheers
Socrates.

 

[FiveParadox]

Confused!

Anyone else reading this thread extremely confused?

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Re: Confused!

Anyone else reading this thread extremely confused?

Immortality of the Soul is the subject Paradox 5 and it got abit of topic, but life is good anyway. Imortalety of the soul is a very colorful and facinating state of thought. What say you?

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: The Finite Energies

Socrates the Greek[/i]]Immortality of the Soul is the subject Paradox 5 and it got abit of topic, but life is good anyway. Imortalety of the soul is a very colorful and facinating state of thought. What say you?

Life is good, indeed, Socrates the Greek.
For one to address this topic, some questions must be considered.

• Does one have a soul — do these things, in fact, exist?
• If so, then what comprises a soul, or a spirit? I would argue that these cannot, in fact, be anything more than the sum of the parts that the universe offers us — souls, or spirits, or however one would label the more mysterious effects of our consciousness, can be no more, in my opinion, than energy.
  
  And that would bring us to:
• Are souls something of an infinite existence?

I would suggest that the answer to this question is no.

A soul cannot be immortal, because nothing is immortal; souls, which if in existence can be no more than a higher form of energy, must be finite, and therefore "mortal", if you would permit the unorthodox choice of language. While the "lifespan", per se, of souls would be somewhat of a far more variable discussion, I would argue that nothing is infinite.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Re: The Finite Energies

Socrates the Greek[/i]]Immortality of the Soul is the subject Paradox 5 and it got abit of topic, but life is good anyway. Imortalety of the soul is a very colorful and facinating state of thought. What say you?

Life is good, indeed, Socrates the Greek.
For one to address this topic, some questions must be considered.

• Does one have a soul — do these things, in fact, exist?
• If so, then what comprises a soul, or a spirit? I would argue that these cannot, in fact, be anything more than the sum of the parts that the universe offers us — souls, or spirits, or however one would label the more mysterious effects of our consciousness, can be no more, in my opinion, than energy.
  
  
  And that would bring us to:
• Are souls something of an infinite existence?

I would suggest that the answer to this question is no.

A soul cannot be immortal, because nothing is immortal; souls, which if in existence can be no more than a higher form of energy, must be finite, and therefore "mortal", if you would permit the unorthodox choice of language. While the "lifespan", per se, of souls would be somewhat of a far more variable discussion, I would argue that nothing is infinite.

Paradox, I think that the sole has many places of residence. A soul can reside in a human being, in a dog, in a cat, any animal, in plants. Reincarnation is with in the realm of possible realities. I feel a soul passes through the Earthian Time and either re-enters the Earthian life cycle or moves on to the unknown. Our bodies are the garage that houses our souls in this life time. Life is cyclical one dies one is born, but who knows after departing from this planet of good and bad maybe we enter in to a higher self when we pas on from this life.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Re: Confused!

Anyone else reading this thread extremely confused?

Confusion is due to the fact that Socrates modifed the posts ITN and I were responding to, so it's no longer clear what we're talking about. Suffice it to say Socrates misunderstood fuzzylogix's first post, responded with some irritation, and has since graciously corrected himself. No need to revisit the details.

 

[Canadian with a hyphen]

Reincarnation is with in the realm of possible realities.

My 24 year old brother remembers most things from his previous life, he kept relations with his previous family,until this day he visits them.His mother fom his previous life is very reconciliated that her son didn't die.
I believe in reincarnation, it is a big part of my faith - by the way I don't have a religion, I am from the druze faith and it is a philosophy not a religion.

my brother is not the only one (I have heard and seen many people within the druze faith talking about their previous life and reliving it, I must say many parents stop their children from remembering because they don't want their kids to live confused) We believe that one who suffers while dying; most likely will start talking about his previous life as soon as he/she can talk, those kids talk at an early age.We believe the population of the Druze people have been the same since the begining of the world.

I agree with Socrates life is cyclical. One dies: one is born, but I don't quite agree that the human soul might go into a tree or a dog , etc...

Rachelle-

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Reincarnation is with in the realm of possible realities.

My 24 year old brother remembers most things from his previous life, he kept relations with his previous family,until this day he visits them.His mother fom his previous life is very reconciliated that her son didn't die.
I believe in reincarnation, it is a big part of my faith - by the way I don't have a religion, I am from the druze faith and it is a philosophy not a religion.

my brother is not the only one( I have heard and seen many people within the druze faith talking about their previous life and reliving it, I must say many parents stop their children from remembering because they don't their kids to live confused) We believe that one who suffers while dying; most likely will start talking about his previous life as soon as he/she can talk, those kids talk at an early age.We believe the population of the Druze people have been the same since the begining of the world.

I agree with Socrates life is cyclical. One dies: one is born, but I don't quite agree that the human soul might go into a tree or a dog , etc...

Rachelle-

I like you better before, the before picture makes you look more like the adventurer.

 

[Canadian with a hyphen]

Reincarnation is with in the realm of possible realities.

My 24 year old brother remembers most things from his previous life, he kept relations with his previous family,until this day he visits them.His mother fom his previous life is very reconciliated that her son didn't die.
I believe in reincarnation, it is a big part of my faith - by the way I don't have a religion, I am from the druze faith and it is a philosophy not a religion.

my brother is not the only one( I have heard and seen many people within the druze faith talking about their previous life and reliving it, I must say many parents stop their children from remembering because they don't their kids to live confused) We believe that one who suffers while dying; most likely will start talking about his previous life as soon as he/she can talk, those kids talk at an early age.We believe the population of the Druze people have been the same since the begining of the world.

I agree with Socrates life is cyclical. One dies: one is born, but I don't quite agree that the human soul might go into a tree or a dog , etc...

Rachelle-

I like you better before, the before picture makes you look more like the adventurer.

Socrates ... Only if i can tell u why I chose that picture

 

[the caracal kid]

man has done well at applying the basic biological processes of distinction and separation of perception which aid in survival to to creation of abstactions. Abstractions such as self, as mind, body, soul.

Life is indeed cyclical, but not in the way the self-driven construct would paint. One is not born again, in another body, becuase of a separate soul. The data from one's life is maintained, and this data may be accessed, but the "you" dies with the body.

So to confuse you, I will simply state that man's constructs are the falsehoods. There is no self, there is no soul, there is no mind (all of these in the classical view of separate entities).

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Re: RE: Immortality of the Soul

man has done well at applying the basic biological processes of distinction and separation of perception which aid in survival to to creation of abstactions. Abstractions such as self, as mind, body, soul.

Life is indeed cyclical, but not in the way the self-driven construct would paint. One is not born again, in another body, becuase of a separate soul. The data from one's life is maintained, and this data may be accessed, but the "you" dies with the body.

So to confuse you, I will simply state that man's constructs are the falsehoods. There is no self, there is no soul, there is no mind (all of these in the classical view of separate entities).

Caracal kid, Philosophical humour is a good thing.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Reincarnation is with in the realm of possible realities.

My 24 year old brother remembers most things from his previous life, he kept relations with his previous family,until this day he visits them.His mother fom his previous life is very reconciliated that her son didn't die.
I believe in reincarnation, it is a big part of my faith - by the way I don't have a religion, I am from the druze faith and it is a philosophy not a religion.

my brother is not the only one( I have heard and seen many people within the druze faith talking about their previous life and reliving it, I must say many parents stop their children from remembering because they don't their kids to live confused) We believe that one who suffers while dying; most likely will start talking about his previous life as soon as he/she can talk, those kids talk at an early age.We believe the population of the Druze people have been the same since the begining of the world.

I agree with Socrates life is cyclical. One dies: one is born, but I don't quite agree that the human soul might go into a tree or a dog , etc...

Rachelle-

I like you better before, the before picture makes you look more like the adventurer.

Socrates ... Only if i can tell u why I chose that picture

Tell me why, tell me why please!