Do people have souls???

[TheEvilCheese]

Occam's Razor, the simplest answer is the right one. We have no solid evidence to support the existance of a soul, and therefore, at this time we must accept the fact that it probably doesn't exist.

The only approach that keeps me sane.
I don't personally believe in a 'soul' so to speak, but I have to admit we humans are an amazing species.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Snip

First off, I would like to point out that science has no place in trying to determine whether or not humans have souls. This is due to the fact that the test of whether or not something is scientific is the question "Can this be proven wrong?". So, for example, the statement "Water is made of hydrogen and flourine" is obviously scientific because it can be disproved. The statement "Humans have souls" is not scientific because no one can theoretically disprove it. So your first reason is opperating on somewhat shakey logic. However, your other two reasons are solid.

OT: As someone who believes in both God and Science (figure that one out. I'm still trying to), I have to say that I believe souls exist, but I do not beleive that I can prove that statement to be true or false.

There is a good reason why Science and Religion are kept separate: Science relies on tangible, physical evidence to explain how and why things happen the way they do, while Religion relies purely on faith.

 

[loc978]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNau_Cdll3w [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNau_Cdll3w] watch this.

...and then this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Z0Iq29EUA

 

[Fetzenfisch]

actually, who cares? And what would it change? After all it all depends on definition.

 

[Koganesaga]

This is a easy one: there is no answer. Say believe what you want, have a soul or not that's all it is, a belief. Until you die, there is no true answer, and by then you probably won't give a shit.

Btw, I'm Catholic, but not practicing or even truly believing, yet I wouldn't go so far as to atheistic.

 

[lacktheknack]

Yep. You know the idea of "I think, therefore, I am"? It's like that. We all are aware of ourselves, that could be because we have souls.

Also, I'm a Christian, so...

 

[the rye]

I don't believe in souls and it's never bothered me that i don't have one.

 

[luckycharms8282]

I don't think so, I think that people just regularly confuse their 'minds' with their 'souls' (and even then, your mind is just a bunch of electrical and chemical responses in gray mushy matter).

Occam's Razor, the simplest answer is the right one. We have no solid evidence to support the existance of a soul, and therefore, at this time we must accept the fact that it probably doesn't exist.

That's actually not occam's razor per se. Quoted from wikipedia:

"The principle is popularly, but incorrectly, summarized as "the simplest explanation is more likely the correct one." The principle of Occam's Razor recommends selecting the competing hypothesis that makes the fewest new assumptions (aka postulates, entities). It is also important that the two hypotheses be equal in other respects; for instance, they must both sufficiently explain available data in the first place. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood"

I agree with you that people underestimate the true miracle that their mind is and attribute it to something made up like a 'soul'

 

[Sinspiration]

The subject of souls is a human concept, maybe we have them, maybe we don't. I like to think the people 'with souls' are the good people, the helpful ones with no real agenda. The ones who have a mutual understanding and respect for others, even if its not many.
Its the ones who are nasty, bitter towards others all the time and generally make others lives a misery in one way or another who lost them a good long time ago who don't.

And then there's lawyers. XD

 

[spartan231490]

I beleive that human beings are far more than the sum of thier parts and chemical reactions in the brain. I don't think free will can be explained by anything other than the existance of a soul. "you can't tell me, it all ends, in a slow ride in a hearse." Brooks and Dun song lyric.

 

[VGStrife]

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"?

I'm really tired of explaining basic logic to people, so here's the short version:

Pink Invisible Unicorn. Disprove.

If something is clear it cannot be pink (without some sort of camo system, in which case it could be any colour). Disproven.

OT: I believe in self awareness, soul=the mind which is caused by neurons firing in the brain. That is all

 

[Guffe]

My thoughts about this is pretty tricky...

I believe there is another dimension which has with "souls/ghosts" to do but that's as far as it goes. I don't think we should interfere with it nor do I hope to know how it works until I eventually get there. Leaving it there might sound strange to many but this is how I think.

I believe we have souls, but not as in floating invisible chain raging phenomenons but I actually have the definition of a soul like this. I had the thought for a long time before but I got the way to phrase it from a Manga I read (that I found by accident) and this is how it goes.
By having a healthy body, you can obtain a healthy mind which together is the soul. (Soul Eater)
Basically my view of the soul is the body and mind together. I have no arguments on how I came to this decision this is just something I think and it works for me.

 

[Hiraeth]

I once heard/read somewhere a description of the soul that basically defined it as meaning or purpose. The example given was that a knife's purpose is to cut, so if it had a soul, it's soul would be to cut. It's an imperfect example, mostly because I can't remember the whole analogy. What I take from that is that a person's soul is the meaning and purpose their life has. If you call someone a soulless bastard, then you're implying that they're horrible precisely because their life is shallow and meaningless, because they have no deeper purpose. If you see depictions of people in fiction who have lost their souls or had them removed, they're barely a reflection of their former selves. Take, for example, the vampires in Buffy - all they have are instinctual emotions, hunger, rage, lust, because when they're turned into vampires they lose their souls and thus their deeper purpose and more complex emotions. I guess by that logic, it's a soul that separates humans from animals, and thus for me it has more to do with understandings of consciousness and self awareness than actually being a tangible thing.

Anyway that's part of what having a soul means to me, and so I believe that yes, humans do have souls. I hope that made some sense, I'm in the middle of an all-nighter, and I'm just about to get another caffeine hit to keep my brain on track...

EDIT: So I hit up google, and apparently the guy with the knife was Aristotle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul#Aristotle if anyone was wondering.

 

[Twilight_guy]

1. There is no scientific evidence against souls either so science can make no claims either way.
2. Please explain to me how every part of the brain works, I really would like to know seeing as how even the best neurologist doesn't know everything.
3. I'm a Catholic and I believe souls exist, doesn't means its true. This is a bad argument.

You can argue anyway you like but you need something a little more solid and fleshed out then what you have here. I could probably tear theses weak arguments to shreds. Use more specifics in the paper. Also, analysis the consciousness since that will undoubtedly be an interesting topic with regards to the soul.

 

[The Funslinger]

I hope so, or I've been trading people's deepest desires for nothing all these years. Acting talent, anyone?

 

[sgtshock]

I believe our minds and personalities are nothing more than the chemical and electric signals whizzing through our brain. However, I've never seen anyone explain what our consciousness is. Our brains are essentially squishy computers that react based on what they see and do, right?. So what's so special about the electric signals in our head that let's us "experience" life, as opposed to a non-living computer?

Until science has an adequate way of explaining what consciousness physically is, then I think souls are a possibility.

 

[spartan231490]

I like to think we do, because I like to think when we die, we turn into ghosts. And a ghost would be that person's personality but with the body missing. So, basically, their soul.

I don't have any evidence to back this up, it's just nicer thinking this than thinking I hang about for 60 or so more years, kick the bucket and then face eternity in nothingness.

As house says, and I'm paraphrasing, there is no solid evidence either way to prove or disprove that we have souls. therefore, I choose to believe that which is most comforting to me. Personally, i don't think that you can explain free will away by causality of chemical reactions and simple physics. I choose to believe that my choices are my own, and not simply the result of chemical reactions, because I believe that I have the power to make choices, and not be a slave to the chemical reactions that happen to take place in the brain.

 

[Fidelias]

I believe that the answer's a bit more complicated than just yes or no. On the one hand, you're, correct. A lot of the things we feel and do can be explained by chemicals and our environment. But it's hard to believe that all we are is just a bunch of instinct-driven animals. I don't know, and I'll never know, at least for a long time (I hope).

Anyways, this is kinda deppressing, I'm gonna go and shoot some stuff in a video-game now, bye.

 

[omega 616]

Nope, it's just electricity and up bringing. Electricty causes chemicals in your noodle to be released causing you to act, with some involvment from how you were raised.

For example, one person broght up in a strict house will hide there anger, while a person an expressive house might lash out.

 

[Fraught]

So i have to do this essay on souls for my philosofy class, and i just wanted to hear some differtent views on the case.

I dont think we have souls and that were just animals, biological robots, doing what our brains tells us to do with the help of pheromones, hormones etc. I base this on 3 things:
1 There is no scientific proof suggesting we have souls
2 Almost everything we feel can be explained by chemicals in our head (and other parts ). Even things such as love and affection.
3 I'm an atheist therefore i believe the excistance of souls would also open up a possibility for the excistance of deities.

What do you think + arguments for your opinion.
Have Fun!
(remember, this is a philosofical argument. No hating on other people for their believes etc)
Excuse me for my crappy English.

Ha, I did an essay on...well, to be honest it was on artificial intelligence, but I kind of segued into a self-discussion about souls.

In any case, I share your view. Both about souls (or the lack thereof) and your religious views (or, considering you're an atheist, the lack thereof).