The Sensitive Powers of the Soul

[seeker_of_God]

In the supplement of the Summa Theologiae, question 70, Aquinas discusses whether the sensitive powers exist in the soul when separated from the body.

In articles 1 and 2, he says that no, the sensitive powers are not existent in the soul, nor the acts of the sensitive powers.

So, how do we “sense” anything in either heaven, purgatory, or hell? Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but what is the experience, let’s say, of a separated soul in heaven before the resurrection?

 

[GEddie]

In the supplement of the Summa Theologiae, question 70, Aquinas discusses whether the sensitive powers exist in the soul when separated from the body.

In articles 1 and 2, he says that no, the sensitive powers are not existent in the soul, nor the acts of the sensitive powers.

So, how do we “sense” anything in either heaven, purgatory, or hell? Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but what is the experience, let’s say, of a separated soul in heaven before the resurrection?

There is no time in the next life; time is a property of entropic matter (such as the material of our human bodies).

The soul does not hang in suspension wishing for his/her senses and limbs, but is restored to life as pneumatikon soma; with his/her faculties restored.

ICXC NIKA

 

[MichaelHowling]

Memory intellect and will is what remains ? What can be felt soley by these…Think of this! What if the body was actually hindering the senses and without it they will be pure and soooo much more powerful! What if THIS state we are in is equivalent to a dream state comparred to what is to come!

God bless!

 

[empther]

So what is the purpose of the senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching?

The purpose is to bring information to the brain.

Yeah, well, does it stop there?
No. The soul “knows” all this information.

There is no reason why God couldn’t pump this information into the temporarily disembodied souls in Heaven.

In fact,
the Beatific vision means that we will see, hear, and otherwise know all that we know all at once rather than sequentially one thing at a time as we do on Earth. God makes this possible.
So it’s not a problem.

 

[MichaelHowling]

psalm 94

Does the one who shaped the ear not hear?

The one who formed the eye not see?h

10Does the one who guides nations not rebuke?

The one who teaches man not have knowledge?

11The LORD knows the plans of man;

they are like a fleeting breath.

This is of a God who is pure spirit

 

[GEddie]

Memory intellect and will is what remains ? What can be felt soley by these…Think of this! What if the body was actually hindering the senses and without it they will be pure and soooo much more powerful! What if THIS state we are in is equivalent to a dream state comparred to what is to come!

God bless!

No good. Your senses require the mechanisms of your body, else you could see blindfolded and smell with a blocked nose.

Even our minds require a body for operation; your head is part of your body.

But body will be provided.

ICXC NIKA

 

[MichaelHowling]

Revelation speaks of saints in heaven…before united with our bodies …and they are doing bodily things.

Also refer to psalm 94.

 

[Offdoodykcrn]

What if the body was actually hindering the senses and without it they will be pure and soooo much more powerful!

I like this thought and I suspect it to be true. I guess we won’t find out until we are no longer hampered by our bodies.

 

[MichaelHowling]

amen friend

 

[Pugsly]

There is no time in the next life; time is a property of entropic matter (such as the material of our human bodies).

The soul does not hang in suspension wishing for his/her senses and limbs, but is restored to life as pneumatikon soma; with his/her faculties restored.

ICXC NIKA

There is no time? Isn’t TIME a measure of CHANGE? May I suggest there will be plenty of CHANGE after you die.

St Paul tells us that HOPE is one of the virtues that endures eternally. You will continue to HOPE in God as He pours out grace to you eternally. HOPE implies a positive CHANGE in future condition.

Here’s another big CHANGE…“Behold I make all things new” says the Lord.

Here’s another thought to consider…God is UNLIMITED but we are LIMITED beings. LIMITATION requires God’s eternal mercy toward us (“Let us give praise to God for His mercy endures forever!”)…but such UNLIMITED mercy flows toward us LIMITED beings in LIMITED stages…which is why the picture of Heaven in the Bible has a River flowing from the Throne of Mercy and the Tree of Life growing fruit in seasons.

Hence, LIMITATION means change…and CHANGE means time is passing. God exists outside of time but has made Himself available to us through Jesus Christ…hence God gloriously did something it seemed He could not do…exist in Time…the IMMUTABLE BEING walking within the purity of Heaven’s time.

 

[seeker_of_God]

There is no time in the next life; time is a property of entropic matter (such as the material of our human bodies).

The soul does not hang in suspension wishing for his/her senses and limbs, but is restored to life as pneumatikon soma; with his/her faculties restored.

ICXC NIKA

Sources? I would be grateful.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

In the supplement of the Summa Theologiae, question 70, Aquinas discusses whether the sensitive powers exist in the soul when separated from the body.

In articles 1 and 2, he says that no, the sensitive powers are not existent in the soul, nor the acts of the sensitive powers.

So, how do we “sense” anything in either heaven, purgatory, or hell? Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but what is the experience, let’s say, of a separated soul in heaven before the resurrection?

I haven’t read the question. However, since the powers of the soul ( necessary accidents ) were created along with the soul, it is more likely that the powers not needed in heaven will exist in the soul as " potential " powers, as when one is asleep. It is hardly likely that God would remove these powers when there would be no necessity to do so. And I’m not sure we will have no use for our sentient powers in heaven and I don’t see how Thomas could be either. I know our bodies will be impassible but that does not mean there will be nothing in heaven for the senses to take pleasure in . I can’t believe in a New Earth and a New Heaven without the fragrance of flowers, wooded vistas, and a little good wine !!! Linus

 

[seeker_of_God]

I haven’t read the question. However, since the powers of the soul ( necessary accidents ) were created along with the soul, it is more likely that the powers not needed in heaven will exist in the soul as " potential " powers, as when one is asleep. It is hardly likely that God would remove these powers when there would be no necessity to do so. And I’m not sure we will have no use for our sentient powers in heaven and I don’t see how Thomas could be either. I know our bodies will be impassible but that does not mean there will be nothing in heaven for the senses to take pleasure in . I can’t believe in a New Earth and a New Heaven without the fragrance of flowers, wooded vistas, and a little good wine !!! Linus

The “new heavens and new earth” are after the resurrection, so we will have the sensitive powers once more.

Now it is evident that certain operations, whereof the soul’s powers are the principles, do not belong to the soul properly speaking but to the soul as united to the body, because they are not performed except through the medium of the body—such as to see, to hear, and so forth. Hence it follows that such like powers belong to the united soul and body as their subject, but to the soul as their quickening principle, just as the form is the principle of the properties of a composite being. Some operations, however, are performed by the soul without a bodily organ—for instance to understand, to consider, to will: wherefore, since these actions are proper to the soul, the powers that are the principles thereof belong to the soul not only as their principle but also as their subject. Therefore, since so long as the proper subject remains its proper passions must also remain, and when it is corrupted they also must be corrupted, it follows that these powers which use no bodily organ for their actions must needs remain in the separated body, while those which use a bodily organ must needs be corrupted when the body is corrupted: and such are all the powers belonging to the sensitive and the vegetative soul.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

The “new heavens and new earth” are after the resurrection, so we will have the sensitive powers once more.

Now it is evident that certain operations, whereof the soul’s powers are the principles, do not belong to the soul properly speaking but to the soul as united to the body, because they are not performed except through the medium of the body—such as to see, to hear, and so forth. Hence it follows that such like powers belong to the united soul and body as their subject, but to the soul as their quickening principle, just as the form is the principle of the properties of a composite being. Some operations, however, are performed by the soul without a bodily organ—for instance to understand, to consider, to will: wherefore, since these actions are proper to the soul, the powers that are the principles thereof belong to the soul not only as their principle but also as their subject. Therefore, since so long as the proper subject remains its proper passions must also remain, and when it is corrupted they also must be corrupted, it follows that these powers which use no bodily organ for their actions must needs remain in the separated body, while those which use a bodily organ must needs be corrupted when the body is
corrupted: and such are all the powers belonging to the sensitive and the vegetative soul

The underlined phrase would be what I was talking about. The " quickening principle " would remain. And once the body was reunited to the soul, the power would be fully restored. In that state it would remain in potency until needed. Then it would be reduced from potency to actuality. This is just my opinion. No big issue for me. Linus