All About Souls!

[HopefulNikki]

If a person can feel hope, how is it possible to say that hope is not observable?

Well, if a person can feel that they have a soul, how is it possible to say that a soul is not observable?

 

[Sunstone]

Well then why would you say that a soul is useless simply because it isn't observable?

I never said that a soul is useless. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said the concept (i.e. the idea, the notion) of a soul is useless because the concept does not refer to anything that can be observed. To elaborate: The concept is supposed to refer to something that exists. Yet, it doesn't refer to anything that passes the test of existence. Namely, whether it can be observed. Therefore the concept is useless.

 

[Sunstone]

Well, if a person can feel that they have a soul, how is it possible to say that a soul is not observable?

How do you know they aren't feeling indigestion and mistaking it for their soul?

 

[HopefulNikki]

I never said that a soul is useless. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said the concept (i.e. the idea, the notion) of a soul is useless because the concept does not refer to anything that can be observed. To elaborate: The concept is supposed to refer to something that exists. Yet, it doesn't refer to anything that passes the test of existence. Namely, whether it can be observed. Therefore the concept is useless.

But we just said (I think, lol) that if one can feel it then it is observable...I think I a lot of people feel that they have souls...therefore, it's observable, and therefore the idea is not useless...right?

 

[HopefulNikki]

How do you know they aren't feeling indigestion and mistaking it for their soul?

We could say the same about hope, lol (or adversly, maybe misery).

 

[Sunstone]

But we just said (I think, lol) that if one can feel it then it is observable...I think I a lot of people feel that they have souls...therefore, it's observable, and therefore the idea is not useless...right?

There's more than one meaning of the word "feel". Are you sure you're not equivocating on various meanings of the word here? Is feeling you have a soul the same as feeling you have indigestion? Are we talking about observable feelings in both cases?

 

[HopefulNikki]

There's more than one meaning of the word "feel". Are you sure you're not equivocating on various meanings of the word here? Is feeling you have a soul the same as feeling you have indigestion? Are we talking about observable feelings in both cases?

I dunno, you made the analogy, lol

 

[Sunstone]

I dunno, you made the analogy, lol

You've lost me.

 

[HopefulNikki]

You've lost me.

Weren't you the one who said "feeling" indigestion could be the same as "feeling" that you have a soul?...and then you proceeded to question equivocation of terms? You've lost me, too, LOL

 

[Sunstone]

Weren't you the one who said "feeling" indigestion could be the same as "feeling" that you have a soul?...and then you proceeded to question equivocation of terms? You've lost me, too, LOL

How is "feeling" that you have a soul an observation?

 

[HopefulNikki]

How is "feeling" that you have a soul an observation?

How is feeling that you have hope an observation?

 

[Sunstone]

How is feeling that you have hope an observation?

So, you're suggesting that feeling hope and feeling that you have a soul are both observations?

 

[HopefulNikki]

So, you're suggesting that feeling hope and feeling that you have a soul are both observations?

Well it seems like both are subjective, so I don't see the reasoning behind denying or accepting one over the other.

 

[Sunstone]

Well it seems like both are subjective, so I don't see the reasoning behind denying or accepting one over the other.

But what does that have to do with their being observable or not?

Is feeling hope observable in precisely the same way or sense that feeling one has a soul is observable? Doesn't "feeling hope" refer to physical feelings, while "feeling one has a soul" refers to thought?

 

[HopefulNikki]

But what does that have to do with their being observable or not?

Is feeling hope observable in precisely the same way or sense that feeling one has a soul is observable? Doesn't "feeling hope" refer to physical feelings, while "feeling one has a soul" refers to thought?

I don't know...when you said hope was observable, what did you mean? I don't think hope is a "physical" feeling, like pain; I think it's an emotional/psychological (possibly spiritual?) feeling

 

[YmirGF]

I take it that subjective "verification" is out, eh? What if by chance someone was able to give tips to uncovering inner awareness? Would that count as proof if it worked for most people?

 

[Sunstone]

I don't know...when you said hope was observable, what did you mean? I don't think hope is a "physical" feeling, like pain; I think it's an emotional/psychological (possibly spiritual?) feeling

We have different ideas of what hope feels like, methinks. At any rate, I'm about to go to bed, so I have to break this off. Good conversation, Nikki!

 

[HopefulNikki]

We have different ideas of what hope feels like, methinks. At any rate, I'm about to go to bed, so I have to break this off. Good conversation, Nikki!

Thanks! I always love talking to you! I would give you Frubals but I have to spread some more first!

 

[YmirGF]

I dunno, I see nothing impressive in this thread in the slightest. In the oddest way it seems to be the other side of the coin to "god did it" threads. The simple fact is, that the "soul" is observable -- subjectively. The simple fact is that if you did exactly what I told you to do you would soon unearth your own "observable evidence".

Trust me, I wouldn't wave relatively meaningless religious texts in your nose OR demand you have faith. I would simply work from the inside out and encourage you to dream.

Egads, what am I saying? :cover: Dreams... pfffffttt. :sleep: How silly. :slap:

 

[HopefulNikki]

I dunno, I see nothing impressive in this thread in the slightest. In the oddest way it seems to be the other side of the coin to "god did it" threads. The simple fact is, that the "soul" is observable -- subjectively. The simple fact is that if you did exactly what I told you to do you would soon unearth your own "observable evidence".

Trust me, I wouldn't wave relatively meaningless religious texts in your nose OR demand you have faith. I would simply work from the inside out and encourage you to dream.

Egads, what am I saying? :cover: Dreams... pfffffttt. :sleep: How silly. :slap:

What do you mean by "soul"?