L/O: To explore different ideas about the body and soul.
What do you think a soul is? What is its relation to the body? Discuss in small groups and jot down a list of words/phrases You could also draw a sketch to illustrate your ideas.
Plato’s view of the Soul Plato said that the soul is like the rider of a chariot. The horses represent your body and your mind. After death your soul lives on – it is eternal.
Plato thought that the soul was the ESSENCE of a person, the part that makes each of use who we are as individuals. Plato thought the soul was made up of three parts: Logos – logical mind Thymos – emotional motive for our behaviour Pathos – relates to our physical needs Think: Apply Plato’s ideas to a recent decision you have made. What would be the effect if we only relied on one part?
Aristotle’s view of the Soul Aristotle said that the soul and the body were linked and you could not have one without the other. Therefore, he did not believe the soul to be eternal.
Aristotle believed that human being have bodies for rational activity, the ability to act in a reasoned way. He said that our capacity for rational activity was our essence, what makes us who we are, our soul. The essence (purpose) of an axe is to cut When an axe is destroyed and returned to a lump of metal it can no longer cut. Its essence ceases to exist. The essence (soul) of a person is to act rationally. When a person dies, they can no longer act rationally. Their essence no longer exists.
Keyword: Soul Christians believe the soul is a non-physical and immortal part of the body that continues after death and is the connection with God. Checkpoint: Immortal – lives for ever/ eternal.
The Soul Christians believe that God breathed life into Adam at creation. The breath of God symbolises humankind’s uniqueness amongst all the animals. This divine spark in humans is called the soul. Genesis 1.27: So God created humankind in his image Genesis 2.7: The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.