Do animals have souls?

[Epic Beard Man]

The soul is not incorporeal - it is a part of the materiel world and gives rise to consciousness, as an emergent property of soul plus brain

Interesting....

From a metaphysical/theological standpoint the soul is a finite substance. If it gives rise to consciousness through the medium of the brain then it must share the same properties as the brain/consciousness.

It is incorporeal yet through some mystery it interacts with the physical

That means in some way or at least in part, the soul although incorporeal, shares some finite qualities, and if so would affect the definition of it being infinite.

3) The distinction between mental and physical is a human construct that doesn't necessarily reflect reality

There lies in the problem of duality. How do I or can I perceive my soul from my mind? Or in your case how does one draw the distinction between sentience and a soul if mental and physical doesn’t necessarily reflect reality?

For further clarification how does my mind perceive an animal to have a soul on the basis of sentience when sentience and soul are two separate things? How am I confident enough to make that distinction when in reality an animal that behaves and interacts with the world could be the result of purely its organ (i.e brain)?

Not trying to give you a hard time remember I’m playing devil’s advocate here

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I sense it with the "inner eye."

What is an inner eye?

 

[sojourner]

What is an inner eye?

Intuition -- something close to imagination. When someone talks about "yesterday" and you picture it in your mind as being over on the left somewhere. That's close to "inner eye."

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Intuition -- something close to imagination. When someone talks about "yesterday" and you picture it in your mind as being over on the left somewhere. That's close to "inner eye."

Couldn’t intuition just be your mind convincing itself?

 

[sojourner]

Couldn’t intuition just be your mind convincing itself?

Could be, but I and others have had too many experiences that end up bearing out in the empirical world to discount it as such.

 

[nPeace]

Do animals have souls?

When I look into the eyes of an animal I can see a soul looking back at me

Just as I can when I look into a human being’s eyes

I see the same thing in both animals and humans

"see" is perhaps the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be "feel"???

I think they have souls

Why shouldn’t they?

They have life, I agree.
(Leviticus 17:11) For the soul of the flesh is in the blood,. . .

 

[Twilight Hue]

Do animals have souls?

When I look into the eyes of an animal I can see a soul looking back at me

Just as I can when I look into a human being’s eyes

I see the same thing in both animals and humans

"see" is perhaps the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be "feel"???

I think they have souls

Why shouldn’t they?

There is no such thing as a soul.

 

[Nakosis]

I didn't develop the belief. I came to an existent belief system.

Would you be ok with someone who did?

 

[atanu]

Do animals have souls?

When I look into the eyes of an animal I can see a soul looking back at me

Just as I can when I look into a human being’s eyes

I see the same thing in both animals and humans

"see" is perhaps the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be "feel"???

I think they have souls

Why shouldn’t they?

The answer, I believe, will depend on what one believes the ontological primitive to be.

I believe the ontological primitive to be ‘existence-consciousness’, which is prior to space-time and pervades the space -time. Even as your mind pervades the whole of your dream world, the ontological primitive is not absent from any place or any time. There is no ‘thing’, animate or inanimate, that can be outside of the ontological primitive.

When you see eye to eye, you recognise and feel love at yourself. Rest of the nature is also that.

 

[atanu]

In the absence (so far) of any sensible definition of what a "soul" might actually be -- as if it is somehow a separate and definable part of one or more creatures' existences -- I will opt for no, animals don't have "souls." And as an animal myself, neither do I.

Let me intervene please.

Suppose for a moment, you believed that instead of the material ultimates (that are devoid of sentience), the ontological primitive was/is ‘competence to know, perceive, and feel’. This universe is enveloped by that and exist in that ‘primitive sentience’ — It is like the whole universe of your dream is pervaded by your mind alone.

Suppose the above scenario for a moment. Do not jump to say that this is unprovable. I can suggest evidences from science. I can suggest evidences from your own empirical experiences. We can discuss evidences if you so wish.

The point is: If you believe this ‘sentience’ ontology to be true, how the universe would pan out? Will you feel deep love for yourself?

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Do animals have souls?

When I look into the eyes of an animal I can see a soul looking back at me

Just as I can when I look into a human being’s eyes

I see the same thing in both animals and humans

"see" is perhaps the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be "feel"???

I think they have souls

Why shouldn’t they?

Strict traditional dogma tends to say no. Personally, I believe "ensoulment" directly corresponds to level of sentience. I also kind of hope plants and insects have some sort of soul analogue, but I haven't given a great deal of thought to how that might work.

 

[JJ50]

I am of the opinion the term 'soul' is just another name for consciousness. Animals of other species are conscious, but don't appear to have the ability to imagine as humans do and create gods, for instance.

 

[blü 2]

Do animals have souls?

A more curious question is why souls would have animals. What does a human body have that a soul would want to hang around for? It can't be sex ─ souls don't have hormones.

 

[sojourner]

Would you be ok with someone who did?

Somebody has to be first..,

 

[Muffled]

Do animals have souls?

When I look into the eyes of an animal I can see a soul looking back at me

Just as I can when I look into a human being’s eyes

I see the same thing in both animals and humans

"see" is perhaps the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be "feel"???

I think they have souls

Why shouldn’t they?

I believe there is no physical connector for a spirit in an animal.

I believe that is wishful thinking. If you are looking into eyes you see what is in those eyes. That is a physical phenomenon.

 

[Muffled]

If humans do, then obviously yes.

Ciao

- viole

I believe that is fallacious reasoning. You can't reason from a detail to the general.

 

[Muffled]

Humans are animals. Of course other animals have souls or spirits as we do.

I believe one says "of course" when one can't prove what he says.

 

[viole]

I believe that is fallacious reasoning. You can't reason from a detail to the general.

Of course I can. Since homo Sapiens (us) ia an animal, obviously, i am not sure what your point ia.

Or do you believe we have some special status above all other animals?

Ciao

- viole

 

[viole]

I believe one says "of course" when one can't prove what he says.

I am sure you never say “of course”. Lol.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I believe one says "of course" when one can't prove what he says.

You can't prove anything you believe so why say such a stupid thing to me? If humans have a spirit, so do other living creatures, otherwise how are they alive? They're not robots. Use logic.