Abstract This paper discusses Plato's and Aristotle's views on the human soul. The paper makes the basic argument that both philosophers had different positions on the mind-soul relationship, the characteristics of the soul and the origin of the soul. The only thing they agree on is that souls come from other souls.
From the Paper "The human soul has been a common topic of debate for philosophers ever since philosophers have existed. Both Plato and Aristotle theorized about the human soul. In most cases they presented very different arguments on the nature of the human soul. However, there are also a few similarities between their arguments. This essay will look at the arguments that both Plato and Aristotle made about the human soul. The three areas in which these philosophers differ are in terms of the relationship between the body and the soul, the nature of the soul and the ultimate origin of the soul."
Abstract Through the ages, both Greek and Hindu societies have been greatly influenced by the idea of the immortality of the soul, affecting them in their daily lives and approach to death. This paper compares and contrasts both schools of thought and their loopholes and conflicting theories. It examines the writings of famous philosophers and religious texts and evaluates their application to modern day thought and religion.
From the Paper "The very idea of immortality of the soul was not simply a theory but was widely believed among the Greeks in society. This would explain Socrates? unfazed and calm demeanor as he approached death in Phaedo. Now, this brings me to the point of linkage. All these concepts may have had a great impact on Greek society, but where exactly did these great minds find the "spark of inspiration" for their theories? Could it have been Hinduism or vice versa?"
Abstract An analysis of a classic situation of the family dinner, which is at the heart of the movie "Soul Food". The paper offers a perceptive look at how food can unite a family.
Abstract This paper reviews "Saving the Corporate Soul" by David Batstone. It includes a critical analysis of the book and a description of some of Bastone's eight principles of ethical business management.
From the Paper "Every day we are inundated with business news about the latest corporation guilty of financial misconduct or deception. Insider trading fraudulent accounting practices and huge executive compensation plans along with a ..."
Tags: Ethics, business, America, Enron, business principles, Saving the Corporate Soul, David Batstone, ethical principles, profitability
Abstract This paper explores two possible ways of reaching the concept of the soul as a constituent or determiner of personal identity; a) as a result of empirical evidence, and b) as an assumption on which a theory of personal identity can be built. Both pose problems for the soul criterion of personal identity. Firstly, the paper argues that a posteriori concept of the soul is invariably tied to psycho-physical continuity, making the soul useless in determining identity beyond the scope of psychological and physical analyses of personal identity over time. Secondly, the paper suggests that an a priori definition of the soul constitutes ad hoc for the personal identity problem. Finally, the paper assesses whether a sensible view of the soul might be reached through the theory of subjective or "flexible" survival and the use of faith rather than logic.
Outline:
A Posteriori Soul A Priori Soul Desire and the Unobservable
Conclusions
From the Paper "The position against unobservability can be found through faith. Theists could make the claim that even though God cannot be observed through the senses, we can be aware of its existence and perhaps even its nature. Why, then, should we be oblivious to the nature of the soul, if it seems to have similar properties? This could be explained in terms of a "sixth sense", a kind of "soul detector". The claim of being able to perceive "auras" or "spirits" are not uncommon, albeit usually discredited. A case could be put forward in which "faith" is the inherent quality that human beings have to observe or experience otherwise unobservable things. This view, however, leans towards ad hoc. Nonetheless, the claim that belief in the soul criterion, as is the case with the belief in God, is a matter of faith and not of logic is widely held, particularly by religious people."
Abstract This paper examines the philosophies of Plato with those of Aristotle with an emphasis on the differences between each philosopher's view of the soul and knowledge. The writer shows how Aristotle's view of the soul is superior to Plato's view of the soul because it deals with a more complex soul.
From the Paper "In The Apology and The Phaedo, Plato uses his mentor Socrates to express his views about many different philosophical ideas. These two scenes occur during the trial of Socrates and during the time before his death. In The Apology, Socrates is on trial and is defending himself against his accusers, which charge him with corrupting the youth and not believing in the Gods. It is during this time that Socrates agues for the existence of the soul and the body. Plato develops his idea of the soul further in The Phaedo, which presents the scene of Socrates's death. He uses this scene to discuss the topics that were raised earlier in The Apology. Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics develops his ideas of the soul. The soul's complexity, for Aristotle, demonstrates better how the soul relates to knowledge justly, particularly when compared to Plato's justification of the knowledge the soul has."
Abstract Metaphysics has long been concerned with soul-body relation and generated more questions than answers. Plato sees the soul and body as separate and transiently united. The soul is immortal and exists in an eternal form. Departing from this idea, Aristotle contends that the soul is as inseparable from the body as form is from matter. Objectivism rejects the dichotomy altogether and argues that man is an entity of physical and psychological states
Abstract This paper discusses soul music, focusing on its sound, its history, some of its composers and artists, and its cultural background. Soul music has become the anthem of African-Americans, and it is a unique and satisfying blend of blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues, that has become an important part of American music and culture. The paper shows that soul music is no longer simply a "black" thing; it is an American style of music that has become popular all over the world and has influenced many other types of music. The paper argues, however, that true soul still faces prejudice and an uphill battle for acceptance in white popular music.
From the Paper "Some music critics believe soul branched into two areas ? soul for blacks, and rock and roll for whites, but this theory is only one of several regarding soul. Soul music remains a bit mysterious because it is a black phenomenon, and so, many other races either do not relate to the music, or do not care to. However, soul jumped the boundaries of race, and became popular in white circles as well as black because of the entertainers, the lyrics, and the driving and catching beat of soul music. Soul was (and is) played on white radio stations, and soul artists appeared on the classic television show "American Bandstand" regularly, which also helped bring the music into the mainstream. One of the reasons that Bandstand featured so many soul artists is because the city where it originated, Philadelphia, was a hotbed of soul artists."
Abstract This paper examines how Egyptian mystics were the first to conceptualize a coherent theory of the human soul and how remarkably, their theories also bear many striking resemblances to modern theories of the conscious and subconscious. It shows how being both ancient and relevant, it is no surprise that Egyptian mythologies and theoretical constructs have had a great influence on many artists. It looks at how among artworks bearing an obvious debt to Egyptian theories of the Soul are those of the founder of the Cruxshadows, an American-based artist who is wildly successful in Germany. It evaluates how despite the fact that Egyptian soul theories have influenced the entire course of modern thought, particularly in their influence on Greek and Hebrew thought, they remain immensely confusing to modern researchers.
From the Paper "The Cruxshadows are an independent musical group primarily consisting of an artist named Rogue and his accompanying musicians. (Incidentally, "Rogue" is the only name by which the artist in question is known, having used it exclusively since early childhood.) In America they are not particularly well known, due to the highly academic nature of some of their work, however they have reached super-star status in much of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. Much of Rogue's work deals with mythological and classical tradition applied to futuristic concepts, and he is particularly concerned with Egyptian mythology and history. According to the Book of Cruxshadows (an independent organization devoted in part to the scholarly study of "Cruxshadowian" lore), the entirety of Rogue's available work deals with a single over-arching story called the Angel Cycle."
Abstract This paper examines how in a curious and prolonged interchange, soul music developed through innovations made by both Britons and Americans--blacks and whites--to emerge as the colorful, powerfully emotive style music fans treasure today. It traces the evolution of soul from its African roots in antebellum America to the British Invasion of the early 1960s, following its transatlantic path several times over as the blues of Mississippi and Memphis influenced the Beatles and the Fab Four subsequently inspired the songs of Otis Redding. The musicians of the Stax-Volt imprint are featured, as well as the British subcultural phenomenon of Northern soul.
From the Paper "The musical style known as "soul" has its roots in the southern experience in the United States, descending from an artistic lineage that began with the Negro spirituals of antebellum slavery. The spirituals, in turn, developed from the musical traditions of Europe and Africa, as the imported cultures of slave and master converged to create distinctly new song forms. A prominent example of this cultural fusion is the African bondsman's practice of adopting English balladry, wherein black songsters adapted British compositions to fashion their own renditions of Old World standards."
This paper examines the conflict between the 'outer' and 'inner' self as depicted in "A Dialogue Between the Soul and Body," written by English poet Andrew Marvell.
797 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 0 sources, 2006, $ 28.95
Abstract The writer of this paper contends and explains why the 'soul' is the inner part of us, while at the same time the 'body' is our outer part, as portrayed in Marvell's poem. The soul suffers from the effects of being influenced by external factors and the social and moral decline which Marvell identifies as the 'disease' that plagues the body. The body's lamentation is actually a series of complaints against the soul's obvious reference to the individual's conscience and morality. This paper discusses the manner in which Marvell addresses the issue of duality in people. This paper examines the main focus of the poem, which is about the social and moral disease, wherein blindness, deafness and torture of the inner self were the consequences brought about by the individual's exposure to the social and moral decline of human society.
From the Paper "This passage provided an enlightening insight between the Body and Soul's relationship. By identifying the Soul as 'tyrannical,' Marvell laid bare the fact that morality and conscience, which the Soul represents, bring difficulty and complexity to the lives of humans. The Body's lamentation argued the fact that humanity would be better off without these restrictive standards of morality, which only bring about prejudice, discrimination, and conflict among people, in the same way that Body and Soul experienced conflict within the individual. What Marvell had presented in the poem was a 'glimpse' into the nature of the Body and Soul as he interpreted it from his experience."
Abstract In this article, the writer offers a discussion of how the soul came about in the Jewish tradition. The writer looks at the Jewish belief of the reincarnation of the soul. The writer examines views of the soul from Kabbalistic to contemporary times, within Judaic doctrine and belief.
From the Paper "The belief in the reincarnation of the soul has been a belief among orthodox Jews for thousands of years. Among Kabbalistic Jews the Zohar is a primary authority stating 'All souls are subject to revolutions'. For many centuries in Jewish history and tradition, the concept of the soul has been linked with resurrection. During the Maccabean era, the concept of hell Gehenna was construed as a place of extreme punishment and purification. In this line of Jewish thought, the soul must be ... "
Abstract This paper will cover the theory of Aristotle's" On the Soul" and sum up the qualities that this philosophy represents in the conditions of sense perception in this field. By understanding how the sense play tricks on us, we can see how he seems to think of ties as a trick upon our sense when we seek the essence of the soul. This paper does not, however, answer such things as how we can investigate such phenomenon in today's world.
Abstract This paper will discuss "Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois and uncover the major ideas put forward by Dubois - finding the black soul. He uses many ideas to categorize his meanings, while giving a clear representation of black life in America. Examples from the book will explain what he meant in writing the book and how this was achieved. By analyzing three themes in this book, we can see how Dubois covered many aspects of black thinking and helped to change the way of life for blacks in America.
Abstract This paper expounds upon Thomas Aquinas's philosophy of the soul and man and compares this concept to Plato's concept of form and the soul.
From the Paper "Aquinas explains his statement, ?the soul is man,? in two senses or ways. One is that a man is composed of not just the body (or form) but also of the soul. Some suggest that ?form alone belongs to the species, while matter is part of the individual, and not the species.? Aquinas denies this. He maintains that the nature of a particular species is what its definition signifies, and natural things are defined according to both their form and matter. Matter, according to him, is part of a particular species and shared by others under the same species: a particular man is composed of a soul, flesh and bones like other men or individuals in common. What belongs to the substance of a particular man also belongs to the substance of other individuals belonging to the same given species (Aquinas 1947)."
