Soul theory of diachronic identity

Author
Affiliation

David W. Agler

The Pennsylvania State University

Abstract
Slides for Metaphysics.

Soul theory

What is a soul?

  • One problem with saying that the person is a soul is: “what is a soul?”
  • Rather than defining it, let’s look at some claims about souls

Traits of the soul

  1. We are souls / spirits
  2. soul is immaterial and distinct from the body
  3. soul always thinks
  4. Bodies are ensouled (acquire souls) at conception
  5. capable of surviving bodily death
  6. the bearer of moral qualities, e.g., wickedness, goodness
  7. the bearer of personal traits, e.g., vices, virtues, likes, dislikes
  8. soul is often said to be a “substance” (type of being that possesses traits)

Soulful theory

NoteSoulful theory

Person \(A\) at \(t_1\) is one and the same person as person \(B\) at \(t_2\) (\(A=B\)) iff \(A\) and \(B\) have the same soul.

Why accept? Reason 1

We are souls.

  • P1. I can doubt everything (including whether I have a physical / material body)
  • P2. I can’t doubt my own existence. The act of my doubting implies a me that doubts.
  • C. Therefore, I am a thinking immaterial being (soul)

Why accept? Reason 2

Allows for strict numerical identity: numerical identity and qualitative identity.

NoteStrict numerical identity

\(A=B\) iff for every property \(F\), \(A\) is \(F\) iff \(B\) is \(F\)

  1. A and B are one and the same object
  2. A and B have all of the same properties

Continued

  • The soul never changes properties.
  • It is capable of “bearing properties” but it does not gain or lose properties.
  • It is thus something that stays exactly the same throughout a person’s life

Reason 3: Egoistic about the afterlife

  • If I associate my continued existence with my body, then concerns about the afterlife are irrational (I just rot)
  • But, souls can potentially exist after death.

Continued

Argument:

  • P1: Concerns about my own existence after death are rational.
  • P2: The only theory that can account for post-mortem existence is the soul theory.
  • C: Therefore, we ought to accept the soul theory.

Exercise

NoteSoulful theory

We have (1) introduced the soul theory and (2) gave some quick arguments for it being true. Answer one of the following:

  1. What other arguments can you think of to support the soul theory?
  2. Which argument did you find the most compelling for the soul theory?