Do Animals Have Immaterial Souls?

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packermann said:
Not sure I agree. I did read a Catholic philosophy book once that said that although animals do not have immortal souls, they do have immaterial souls.
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Well, be careful with Catholic philosophy, and even theology, books. Some of them operate under the guise of being free from doctrinal error, but this is not always the case.
 
JLongoria said:
Well, be careful with Catholic philosophy, and even theology, books. Some of them operate under the guise of being free from doctrinal error, but this is not always the case.
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I agree. But I do think there is something in a dog which animates a dog that is not in a rock. But if there is something in the teachings of the CC that goes againt this, I will submit. Does anyone have a quote from the CCC on this?
 
JLongoria said:
Well, be careful with Catholic philosophy, and even theology, books. Some of them operate under the guise of being free from doctrinal error, but this is not always the case.
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And where did you study the Summa Theologica?
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
And where did you study the Summa Theologica?
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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That was just a general warning, by the way.

I originally studied some of the Summa with an Lutheran ex-pastor, leaning very much toward the Church - whom taught several ethics and philosophy of religion courses I’ve taken. To be honest, it was more like I would read, and he would help elucidate some of the arguments when I had questions.

I’m just saying that we can’t be too quick to just jump the gun because it says, “CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY” on the cover. I’ve known people that have learned thoroughly un-Catholic things at allegedly Catholic universities in philosophy and theology classes.

And on that note, the Summa Theologica, which I do study (haha, and there’s a handy little Shorter Summa by the saint as well, it’s wonderful!), for all its splendor, is still not authoritative in all matters.

I will concede that it holds immense truth, as the saint is truly a learned Doctor, yet the document itself is not binding on Catholics unless included in the infallible councils.

To date, I’m not sure if there’s been anything said about animals, heh. 😉
 
JLongoria said:
To date, I’m not sure if there’s been anything said about animals, heh. 😉
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As a matter of fact, it did, in the section used for metaphysics. What it did say was that the soul is the principal of life. Anything living has a soul. That includes humans, down to plants, animals and by extension, what we now call microbes or bacteria. With the soul as the principal of life. we distinguish between human and non-human. The human soul is spiritual, in that it is created in the image of God, it is also immortal and rational. The principal of life for all other living beings is irrational, mortal, and since at the time of death, it would be material. And no, I have never seen one and don’t know anyone who has. By the fact it ceases to exist, it would not be spiritual, as all known spiritual creation is immaterial. i.e., soul and angels. It would therefore be material and mortal and irrational.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

PS - Please forgive me if I do not remember my metaphysics exactly as I had it 48 years age and I am sure it is a little rusty. also, at that time, the textbooks, lectures and exams were all in Latin. Which I do not remember anymore. Use it or lose it. It’s lost.
 
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