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A Level RE > Philosophy - The Soul > Flashcards

Philosophy - The Soul Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the dualist view on the soul

A

The philosophical view that there are two parts to a person:

  1. The body
  2. The soul
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2
Q

Explain the monist view on the soul

A

The philosophical view that a person has two distinct parts but they are entwined together. The body and soul/mind are separate but once the body dies the soul dies also.

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3
Q

Explain the materialistic view on the soul

A

The philosophical view that there is no distinct, invisible or separate part to the human body. We are just the substance of our bodies.

There is no soul!

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4
Q

Why does Plato have a dualist view on the soul?

A

He thinks this because of his dualist theory of reality, we have a soul that previously lived in the world of forms and that is how we can instinctively recognise qualities like beauty and good.

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5
Q

Why does Aristotle have a monist view on the soul?

A

He thinks this because he thinks in an ‘a posteriori’ manner, he can’t see the soul live on after or before, and therefore it cannot. There is no evidence for it.

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6
Q

Why does Dawkins have a materialist view on the soul?

A

This is the view of prominent atheist and materialist Richard Dawkins, he thinks this because he does not believe in things above and beyond the material world – he believes anything transcendent is irrational.

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7
Q

Plato - what does it mean to say the soul is the essence of a person?

A

To say the soul is the essence of a person means that it is associated with an individual’s personality, decisions and free will and is often linked to the mind. It is what makes you, you. The spiritual part of a person that survives death.

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8
Q

What are Plato’s 3 main philosophical views on the soul?

A

Reason, emotion and appetite/desire

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9
Q

Plato - what is reason?

A

help us work out right from wrong, helps us see the world of forms and gain knowledge

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10
Q

Plato - what is emotion?

A

gives us the ability to love, be courageous – but can lead to recklessness

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11
Q

Plato - what is appetite/desire?

A

makes us look after the physical needs of our body – but can lead to hedonism

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12
Q

What is hedonism?

A

The pursuit of pleasure

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13
Q

How is Plato’s view of the soul linked to his theory of the forms?

A

the soul has access to the world of forms and has objective knowledge, thanks to our ability to reason. Our soul is the reason we instinctively recognise beauty and goodness

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14
Q

How is Plato’s view of the soul linked to the analogy of the cave?

A

the inside of the cave is the bodily (material world) but the outside world is the world of forms (where the soul belongs). The prisoners are the soul, the cave is the prison of the people just like the body is the prison of the soul.

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15
Q

Explode the quote ‘the body is the prison of the soul’

A

Plato says the aim of the soul is to break free from the body and fly to the realm of ideas to spend an eternity contemplating truth, beauty and goodness. The body is weak because of its desires and flaws.

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16
Q

Plato - why is the soul like a diamond?

A

Plato refers to the soul as being like a diamond as it is both simple and complex, it is also one thing but can be viewed from many different angles. We function correctly when we have all three parts of the soul in balance.

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17
Q

‘the body is the prison of the soul’

meaning of the word prison

A

.The word prison represents Plato’s understanding of how the soul is somehow trapped within the body. Like the prisoners in the cave the soul wishes to escape to reach the world of forms.

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18
Q

‘the body is the prison of the soul’

meaning of the word body

A

.The body represents Plato’ understanding of the physical/material world. The body is tangible and will eventually erode. The body is only concerned with the physical world and lives in ignorance.

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19
Q

‘the body is the prison of the soul’

meaning of the word soul

A

.The soul represents Plato’s understanding of the world of forms. The soul is spiritual and eternal. Unlike the body it will not erode. The soul belongs to the world of forms and is it the soul that provides us with the knowledge of the world of forms (a priori – innate knowledge)

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20
Q

In the analogy of the charioteer what does the charioteer represent?

A

.Has to control the two horses and guide them to the destination in the most efficient way
.Reason and rationality
.Keep spirit and appetite in check

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21
Q

In the analogy of the charioteer what does the white horse (immortal horse) represent?

A

.Doesn‘t need the guidance of the charioteer since he knows where to go and is moving to his best ability
.Courage, kindness, love, justice and truth
.Spirit/desire

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22
Q

n the analogy of the charioteer what does the black horse (mortal horse) represent?

A

.Lazy and not wanting to move in the right direction
.Appetite
.Selfish and only concerned with hedonistic needs

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23
Q

In the analogy of the charioteer what is the charioteers destination?

A

.The world of forms, where he’ll find all the forms and everlasting truth and knowledge
.Immaterial and contains true beauty, truth and justice

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24
Q

Why does Plato believe the soul is more important than the body?

A

.Because the soul is linked to the world of forms, it is not tangible and therefore does not erode, making it more important, it’s also eternal

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25
Q

In the analogy of the charioteer why do mortals have a more turbulent journey compared to the Gods?

A

.We have two different horses wanting different things and trying to pull in opposite directions, our reason has to get them both working together
.The Gods have two good horses so doesn’t need to struggle against them

26
Q

Why do Bertrand Russel and John Locke disagree with Plato’s view of the soul?

A

Both scholars were empiricists. They would reject Plato’s understanding of the soul because there is no empirical evidence (evidence based on the senses) to back it up. We can’t observe it so we can’t accept it.

27
Q

Why do David Hume and Richard disagree with Plato’s view of the soul?

A

Both would say that the concept is counter intuitive – it goes against our senses to say there is a part of us that is transcendent (Richard Dawkins says anything transcendent is irrational). ‘Philosophical/religious language is meaningless’ – it has no value/substance and can’t be verified (proven).

28
Q

Why do The Logical Positivist disagree with Plato’s view of the soul?

A

Logical Positivists use empirical evidence, and therefore would reject Plato’s idea of the Soul since there is no observational evidence based on the senses to back it up.

29
Q

Why does Aristotle disagree with Plato’s view of the soul?

A

‘If a man has the theory without the experience … he will often fail’ Metaphysics Book 1
Aristotle would argue you need the evidence to back up your claims otherwise it won’t make any sense – empirical evidence is needed and Plato has none for his concept of the soul, if you have no evidence your theory will fail.

30
Q

Summarise Aristotle’s view on the soul

A

.Monist
.Soul and body linked together - inseparable
.When the body dies so does the soul

31
Q

What is the rational soul?

A

.The soul humans have
.Can grow and reproduce (reproduction)
.Can feel pain and freely move, locomotion (perception)
.Can make intellectual and moral decisions (thought)

32
Q

What is the sensitive soul?

A

.The soul animals have
.Can grow and reproduce (reproduction)
.Can feel pain and freely move, locomotion (perception)

33
Q

What is the nutritive soul?

A

.The soul plants have

.Can grow and reproduce (reproduction)

34
Q

What two analogies does Aristotle use to help people understand how the body and soul are united?

A

.If the body were an axe, the soul would be its ability to chop
.If the body were an eye, the soul would be its ability to see

35
Q

Aristotle quote concerning the soul and body - long

A

‘The soul does not exist without a body and yet is not itself a kind of body. For it is not a body, but something which belongs to a body, and for this reason exists in a body’- Aristotle

36
Q

Aristotle quote concerning the soul and body - short

A

‘The soul animates the body’- Aristotle

37
Q

Explode the quote ‘The soul does not exist without a body and yet is not itself a kind of body. For it is not a body, but something which belongs to a body, and for this reason exists in a body’- Aristotle

A

‘The soul does not exist without a body’ – the monist view, the idea that the body and soul are one, in unison, and inseparable and when the body dies so does the soul – opposite to Plato, a dualist, who says that the soul is linked to the world of forms and lives on after death – it is not tied to our body.

38
Q

Explode the quote ‘The soul animates the body’- Aristotle

A

The soul moves the body and gives us life, like Aristotle explains in his analogies – if the body was an eye, the soul is the ability to see. The body is just there and is nothing without the soul which gives us our life and ability to do things.

39
Q

How does Aristotle’s 4 causes link to the soul and body?

A

Body is the material cause, soul is the formal cause, parents are formal cause, body and soul work in unison to bring you to your final cause

40
Q

What are the 5 points of cartesian dualism (substance dualism)

A
  1. Each person is composed of two main parts: an immaterial mind and a physical body
  2. Only immaterial minds can have mental properties
  3. Only physical objects can have physical properties
  4. Mind and body are able to exist independently (and generally do so after death)
  5. Mind and body enter into two-way casual interaction
41
Q

Explain - Each person is composed of two main parts: an immaterial mind and a physical body

A

Descartes believes mind (soul) and body are two separate things that exists independently of each other

42
Q

Explain - Only immaterial minds can have mental properties

A

Only your mind can do certain things, like think, your material body can’t

43
Q

Explain - Only physical objects can have physical properties

A

Only your body can do certain things, like walk, you immaterial mind can not

44
Q

Explain - Mind and body are able to exist independently (and generally do so after death)

A

More of a dualistic view, they exist by themselves and live on after death – similar to Plato’s view

45
Q

Explain - Mind and body enter into two-way casual interaction

A

The soul can influence the body and vice versa

46
Q

Descartes quote about the mind and body

A

‘The mind is entirely and truly distinct from the body and may exist without it’ – Descartes

47
Q

Explode quote ‘The mind is entirely and truly distinct from the body and may exist without it’ – Descartes

A

Descartes is a substance dualist. This means that he argues for the body and soul existing as two separate substances.
Descartes argues that the soul can live on after the death of the body. Like Plato, it belongs to a different type of existence.

48
Q

Descartes really famous quote

A

‘I think therefore I am’ – Descartes

49
Q

Explode ‘I think therefore I am’ – Descartes

A

Descartes believes that the mind and what the mind contains (thoughts/dreams/emotions) is clear evidence for a dualist belief in the existence of the soul.

50
Q

Dualism

A

The philosophical belie that there are two distinct parts to the human: a body and mind (soul)

51
Q

Monism

A

The idea that the mind/soul and body are united

52
Q

Materialism

A

A form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena and consciousness, are results of material interactions.

53
Q

Outline why Richard Dawkins believes there is no soul

A

He is a materialist who believes that we are merely the sum total of our genes and just carriers of information and DNA – there is no soul or consciousness as there is no empirical evidence for it.

54
Q

Describe Dawkins’ two ways of classifying the soul. Which does he believe in and why?

A

Soul 1 – a real separate thing that is spiritual and contains personality. Dawkins rejects this.
Soul 2 – ‘intellectual or spiritual power. High development of the mental faculties. Deep feeling and sensitivity.’
Dawkins believes in soul 2 as it is referring to the soul as simply a metaphor for our intellect and feelings.

55
Q

Can you explain what Richards Dawkins means by the phrase ‘humans are survival machines’?

A

We are the vehicle of genes which are only interested in replicating themselves in order to survive into the next generation.

56
Q

How does self-awareness (thoughts, feelings and emotions) have evolutionary advantages?

A

Evolution is all about survival, it is human instinct and nature, we can use our self-awareness for the benefit of survival. For example marriage and having kids means that our genes are passed on through the generations – they have survived. Our self-awareness is just to help us survive as we can manipulate people, emotional blackmail for our own benefit.

57
Q

What does Gilbert Ryle mean when he says the soul is a ‘category mistake’?

A

Gilbert Ryle means that the soul was a mistake in incorrect use of language, it resulted to people speaking of the mind and body as different phenomena as if the soul was something indefinably extra within a person.

58
Q

Explain Ryle’s cricket match analogy

A

just like people look for the soul as if it is there it is similar to looking for the team spirit as if it was there – the team spirit and soul are not actual physical things that exist.

59
Q

What classification of belief does Ryle have? Why?

A

a monist as he believes the soul is there, like team spirit, but it is not a separate thing to the body – it is more the way a person acts and integrated with others in the world

60
Q

What do philosophers call human subjective consciousness?

A

Qualia

61
Q

What 2 things does Dawkins argue about the soul and science?

A

.Soul is just a name for something we don’t yet understand, an evasion not an explanation
.Soul one will die with science but soul two will thrive

62
Q

What essentially does Ryle say about the soul?

A

.All talks of a soul don’t make sense since they are from an inability to use the English language correctly

A Level RE (29 decks)

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