The relationship between “human soul” and “rational soul” is not a two-way one as you suggest. Might look like this because at the time of the writings there were no “aliens” to mention.
Methinks instead of yelling past each other, you both need to breathe and pull back.
Without God we reduce ourselves and become like animals.
Excellent summary
Fair summary but “They would not however be “human”, since this word implies a specific kind of embodiment” is prob a moot point, at least with Scholastics.
.Point taken.Fair summary but “They would not however be “human”, since this word implies a specific kind of embodiment” is prob a moot point, at least with Scholastics.
As you say “It is a distinction that has been immaterial up to now” and therefore “human” is at the very least an ambiguous word in Thomistic understanding. To be human was to be a rational animal and to be a rational animal was to be human.
Hence the word “human” actually has two meanings for Scholastics:
(a) it defines a genus (all “rational animals”)
(b) it also defines the only known species in that genus (those with smooth skin, erect posture, 5 fingers and opposable thumbs etc).
As opined below:
The problem is there is only one species of “rational animal” known for sure at the moment. Until one knocks at the door the “correct” meaning of human won’t be a problem for me
- “… “angels” are each a different species and in fact the word “angel” describes a “genus” not a “species”. So if aliens came on the scene then the word “human” would prob follow the same fate.”*
Then again it may not.
I never said an animal COULD not be more intelligent than a human, it is quite possible some animals, or maybe ones we have yet to discover, are smarter than we are…anything is possible in this world!!
Well, land animals, which our somas are, don’t move around nearly as much as migratory birds, for one thing.
I don’t think aliens would appreciate being called “aliens” even if we admit they are also “rational animals” (I don’t see why that term couldn’t be kept to denote our common genus - surely they are animal like us).
..Alien is a catch all term for “outsider.” It is not derogatory.I don’t think aliens would appreciate being called “aliens” even if we admit they are also “rational animals” (I don’t see why that term couldn’t be kept to denote our common genus - surely they are animal like us).
Its like saying the world is either Catholic or “non-Catholic” as if Protestants shouldn’t have their own name but be defined only relative to Catholics (by privation)
So maybe we should call the aliens Martians or Venutions or Jovians or Mercurials or maybe even Urani
Of course who is to say there are not many species of “alien”.
Its a bit unfair to suggest “they all look the same” just because they aren’t like us!
Most probable are the masons…
You think?
There are countless angels and some other spiritual creatures in space and in everywhere. This issue is being discovered and found out by spiritually hig people with spiritual discovery. Angels and other spiritual creatures are being herald in Qur’an and Hadiths. Duty of these creatures is to glorify God.
Hasantas people are prob looking for positions compatible with Catholicism.
.=Blue Horizon;11836648]Hasantas people are prob looking for positions compatible with Catholicism.
While your allegedly Muslim views are interesting they are not Catholic positions and as you don’t provide any logical basis for the truth of your assertions I am not sure how they can be justified or discussed
Why do you not want to know İslamic conceptions?
Plant have no souls. Soul is a kind of law of God which has got life, mind, hearth, conscious and other senses. And also soul has got a substance which is not sort of any matter in the physical world. The life of plants is a law of God but that law has not got mind, conscious, senses and has no a substance. Life of plants is manifestation of life of God in order as a law. But that law is not a soul. İf that law had had a mind and substance it would be their soul.
Angels have no physical body but angels came to prophets with revelations so they can be in any where. Moraly high millions people(Avliya) see angels by moraly and spiritual discovery( karamat: a low degree of miracle). There are countles angels in space on stars, planets but their substance is proper to hard conditions of space. Forexample the angels on stars can resist million santigrad degrees. The duty of angels is to observe universe that everything is act and art of God. Because humanbeing can not do this work totally.
İf there were some other creatures God would herald about it. There are alives in every where of space but they are angels and spiritual creatures. God notify this in many ways. God define himself as God of mankinds, angels, evil spirits(gin in Arabic) and spiritual creatures. İf God had created some others we would know. And without power and decision of God there could occur nothing.
Alives have soul that is true but there is no aliens as we consider biological creatures like us.
Souls of animals have life, senses but have no an advanced mind, conscious as soul of mankind.
Animals have a soul, but not really what we would call a mind.
On a Catholic website how can we further discuss singular assertions that have no interior logic, defy Catholic principles/definitions and which are not referenced from sources Catholics might accept?
Thanks for the link. Im just going to bump this one, seems like alot of people have some thing or two to learn from it. I know i did
That would be incorrect. The presence of a soul is what distinguishes living matter from dead matter. If a plant had no soul, it would not nor could not, be alive.
