Really,what's a soul?

What's a soul,in your view?

An emotional and psychological construct meant to deal with humanity's fear of death.

Or if you are watching most movies, a ball of sparkly light.

Edward Elric asked that just before making the worst mistake of his life.

An emotional and psychological construct mean to deal with humanity's fear of death.

Or if you are watching most movies, a ball of sparkly light.

jimkabrhel

Self awareness?

So hard to describe.

It's nothing. It's just something people say to describe something that can't be described because it doesn't exist.JohnF111

Wrong.

It's your essence.

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

[QUOTE="JohnF111"]It's nothing. It's just something people say to describe something that can't be described because it doesn't exist.GreekGameManiac

Wrong.

It's your essence.

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

[QUOTE="JohnF111"]It's nothing. It's just something people say to describe something that can't be described because it doesn't exist.GreekGameManiac

Wrong.

It's your essence.

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

How cute. Did your mother tell you that?

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

GreekGameManiac

[QUOTE="GreekGameManiac"]

[QUOTE="JohnF111"]It's nothing. It's just something people say to describe something that can't be described because it doesn't exist.JohnF111

Wrong.

It's your essence.

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

It's either another word to describe a persons personallity or the bit of energy that goes into the earth after you die.

It's either another word to describe a persons personallity or the bit of energy that goes into the earth after you die.

norm41x

It's something that doesn't exist.

[QUOTE="JohnF111"][QUOTE="GreekGameManiac"]

Wrong.

It's your essence.

The strictly-materialistic type of view of the universe is way too bleak and simple.

BranKetra

its those balls of pure energy that you have to keep away from the annoying Zant hands in Twilight Princess.

You ask that on a gaming website? One of the greatest and most puzzling philosophical and psychological queries ever pondered upon, and you expect to get intelligent answers from a gaming website?

An emotional and psychological construct meant to deal with humanity's fear of death.

Or if you are watching most movies, a ball of sparkly light.

jimkabrhel

I personally believe that concept of a soul still is an important part of philosophical language. It also might be helpful to grasp when trying to understand or relate to those who believe they have a soul (the majority of people on this planet!).

With enough psilocybin, it will become clear. SandmanAwakened

its those balls of pure energy that you have to keep away from the annoying Zant hands in Twilight Princess.

konvikt_17

The thing you see in a mirror.

Something that acts as a coping mechanism for our death anxiety. There is no such thing as a "soul". It's made up. The integration of our perceptual systems in the human brain create the illusory feeling that there's some sort of "spirit" controlling the body. The body controls itself.chrisrooR

I'm sorry that you have such a plain,bland,simplistic,hindered view of the universe.

[QUOTE="chrisrooR"]Something that acts as a coping mechanism for our death anxiety. There is no such thing as a "soul". It's made up. The integration of our perceptual systems in the human brain create the illusory feeling that there's some sort of "spirit" controlling the body. The body controls itself.GreekGameManiac

I'm sorry that you have such a plain,bland,simplistic,hindered view of the universe.

Don't know how accurate this is but here's what I found:

"The Soul is a compact car designed at Kias design center in California, unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, manufactured in South Korea and marketed globally beginning with model year 2010. The Soul uses Kias corporate grille, known as the Tiger Nose, as designed by Kias design chief, Peter Schreyer."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Soul

[QUOTE="chrisrooR"]Something that acts as a coping mechanism for our death anxiety. There is no such thing as a "soul". It's made up. The integration of our perceptual systems in the human brain create the illusory feeling that there's some sort of "spirit" controlling the body. The body controls itself.GreekGameManiac

I'm sorry that you have such a plain,bland,simplistic,hindered view of the universe.

Simplistic? The human brain is so vastly complex, that graduate neurology textbooks basically have points in them that say "Nobody knows". However, the feeling that there is a soul is the successful integration of all of these systems acting as they should. It also acts to somehow make us feel superior to other forms of life. Do you believe cats have souls? What about trees? Fish? Where is the line drawn? I feel that the opposite is as you've described; I feel that the "soul" based off of religious thinking is bland and simplified. Scientific inquiry does the best it can with the tools we have, and I think that's infinitely more interesting and unhindered than "God did it" or "It's a glowing energy within us all". Drawing conclusions based on superstition is hindering us all, and everything should be approached with doubt - including the 'given' that we all have individual souls.chrisrooR

I'd say you need to study the subject of souls more.

[QUOTE="chrisrooR"]Simplistic? The human brain is so vastly complex, that graduate neurology textbooks basically have points in them that say "Nobody knows". However, the feeling that there is a soul is the successful integration of all of these systems acting as they should. It also acts to somehow make us feel superior to other forms of life. Do you believe cats have souls? What about trees? Fish? Where is the line drawn? I feel that the opposite is as you've described; I feel that the "soul" based off of religious thinking is bland and simplified. Scientific inquiry does the best it can with the tools we have, and I think that's infinitely more interesting and unhindered than "God did it" or "It's a glowing energy within us all". Drawing conclusions based on superstition is hindering us all, and everything should be approached with doubt - including the 'given' that we all have individual souls.GreekGameManiac

I'd say you need to study the subject of souls more.

I'd say that there isn't much empirical evidence supporting its' existence. Are there any peer-reviewed articles you have in mind? The term "soul" itself is pretty subjective, and can mean many different things to different people. Religious background, philosophical understanding, upbringing...all of these things can influence how a person interprets what a soul is. I'm not saying I have the answers, rather, I'm saying that people who assume without any doubts that some sort of immortal "essence" exists within us need to critically examine their own assumed beliefs.chrisrooR

Understandable.

However i can tell you that it's exactly(ok,maybe partially)bwecause of what you've been taught to by parents/society if you outright deny the existence of stuff just for the sake of denying it.

And no,not really.

Personally,i tell you that there's waaaay more than meets the eye.

I don't see why the ethereal & natural sides of the universe can't co-exist.

Nobody knows everything after all.

I always assumed soul just means self awareness, basically you being an individual aware of yourself, Your feelings, your memories, your way of thinking, just "you"ethanradd

Your soul is abit different than your personality...

But yeah,it's the most true you.

[QUOTE="ethanradd"]I always assumed soul just means self awareness, basically you being an individual aware of yourself, Your feelings, your memories, your way of thinking, just "you"GreekGameManiac

Your soul is abit different than your personality...

But yeah,it's the most true you.

"it's the most true you" - can you explain this better?chrisrooR

Yes.

It's your essense,your spirit,your most true self.

Your body & and brain is just your body and brain.

You can't take them with you in the higher realms(kinda)and you def. can't take them with you in any next lives.

What don't you understand about your soul being your truest(sp?)self though?

[QUOTE="chrisrooR"]"it's the most true you" - can you explain this better?GreekGameManiac

Yes.

It's your essense,your spirit,your most true self.

Your body & and brain is just your body and brain.

You can't take them with you in the higher realms(kinda)and you def. can't take them with you in any next lives.

What don't you understand about your soul being your truest(sp?)self though?