Or is there an unexplainable spiritual element of the soul?
I'm not giving an opinion; I'm looking for them out of curiosity.
2006-07-07 05:09:19 · 11 answers · asked by aanstalokaniskiodov_nikolai 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I think the "soul" is a collective term for both "intelligence" and "emotion". When a being is able to feel or react to what he is thinking, then you can say that he has a soul. It is the essence of every living thing who, or which, can think and at the same time feel, that is why they say that not only human beings have souls but animals too, because animals have different emotions alongside with their brain functions (however primitive it is). So if you wanna define "soul" in the language of chemistry, you can perhaps make reference to the chemical substances and reactions that are responsible for the process of thinking and feeling, like acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters for brain function, the firing of neural impulses that leads to the release of the hormones responsible for evoking emotions such as dopamine and serotonin, and the like. I actually find your question very challenging because it tries to make philosphy as tangible as chemistry. Whew!
2006-07-07 06:36:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not even your consciousness can be reduced to just a series of chemical reactions. It requires programming, i.e. input of information, by teaching and experience. So whatever your "self" is cannot be reduced to chemistry alone.
The soul (unlike consciousness) isn't testable by science.
If it is tied to consciousness/sentience (i.e. if only conscious life has a soul), the answer is no.
If non-sentient life has a soul, too (see discussions on abortion ethics and embryonal stem cell ethics - and by logical extension, ethics for testing on amimals), it is tied to the process of life. That's still a highly complex system of reactions, not a simple series but an interdependent system. Again, not "just a series".
All the above not so much an opinion as an observation.
In my opinion, the soul is our interface with the unknowable. Communication with our consciousness is mostly faulty, which makes talking about it difficult.
2006-07-07 06:28:31 · answer #2 · answered by jorganos 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's an unexplainable spiritual element of the soul,a power that is yet to be harnessed.
2006-07-07 05:15:00 · answer #3 · answered by J.D.S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well i think that there is an unexplainable spiritual element of the soul. It is something that is fascinating to think about because of its mystery. Does it exist or not i think so.
2006-07-07 05:12:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, body is a series of chemical reactions, soul is the fruit..
2006-07-07 05:15:56 · answer #5 · answered by Drone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your "soul" is basically your attitude which is learned behavior which is a product of your brain which functions ala electro chemical reactions.
so YES.
when one stops and considers what knowledge the ancients had, we realize they made up the entity type soul thing to explain the brain, central nervous system and 5 senses
2006-07-07 05:16:34 · answer #6 · answered by JCCCMA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No soul, just chemical reactions
2006-07-07 07:43:30 · answer #7 · answered by satanorsanta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i guess the soul is some series of chemical reactions, only the chemicals are stimulated by your environment, like peace and quietness... maybe those chemicals don't even exist, just seen by god... who knows? here's another science vs. god.....
2006-07-07 05:16:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no soul, it's your brain, all chemical and electrical reactions.
2006-07-07 05:12:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting idea. I think there's something spiritual that's the core of every person and is unique to that person. But there's definitely a chemistry aspect as well (DNA is a good example). I'l give it more thought. Thanks for the new idea!
2006-07-07 05:36:08 · answer #10 · answered by K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋