The Human Soul, Essay Example

Introduction

The human soul is an example of an inaminate subject that has continued to fascinate mankind throughout history.  The soul is considered to be the source of life in a living human being. It is the part that remains immortal and survives after death. Philosophers believe that this only applies to ascentiant beings and as such animals do not have souls. Religions have placed condition on the soul and the question of spiritual immortality. The human soul is believed to be spiritual and as such a form of energy that is released from the dead physical body. The body is comprised of organic matter and as such will decay upon death.

Exploring the concept

Because the soul in both intangible and inanimate it is difficult to arrive at precise definitions in conventional terms.  Nobody has died and returned to describe the experience.  There have been numerous experiences encountered with apparitions and ghosts but there is no tangible evidence that life, in the conventional sense, exists after death.  One of the main links is that of the human mind and consciousness, phenomena which to a great extent still remains a mystery to scientists.  In general terms it is believed that the soul remains immortal and exists by its own nature once it become separated from the body.  This is justified on three grounds of proof i.e. metaphysical, psychological and moral reasoning.

The metaphysical proof resides in the basis that the soul is not a physical component of the body and as such it is not capable of destruction or decomposition like the frailty of the human body.  The rational soul is considered to be independent of the body and spiritual be nature i.e. a form of energy that persists beyond the death of the human body.  In the creator theory God is considered the supreme being and as such the supreme cosmic intelligence. As such it is unlikely that God would destroy a human soul after creating it; that would be an act of unintelligence.

The Psychological angle is that all living things strive towards perfection and as such life is a struggle towards achieving personal perfection.  In this the soul is seeking to continuously strive towards achieving this state.  As such rational souls live forever.  Religion bases the existence of the soul on moral grounds i.e. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked. The soul is essentially immaterial in the sense that it contains two faculties i.e. that of intellect and that of the will.

Do human beings have souls?

The distinguishing characteristics of humans against other items like trees, rocks, water etc. is that humans possess a degree of intelligence and a consciousness.  Animals also have brains and a degree of intelligence but they do not possess a consciousness or sense of spiritual awareness i.e. I exist therefore I am.  It is the link of the consciousness and human mind that provides a closer understanding of the concept of spirituality and the human mind.   When the energy is released from the human body it takes on the concept of energy.  This is released and the concept of how this manifests itself in the future is not yet understood.  There are religions like that of the Hindu that believe the souls are re-incarnated into another living being and as such continue their earthly existence and the continued struggle to achieve perfection.

In the end of the physical life we all strive towards becoming happy beings and self-contented and as such achieving the best state of perfection in this life. To understand the journey beyond life as we know it is first to understand the human soul, a problem that will perplex scientists and philosophers for many years to come.