Does the concept of 'SOUL' relate to or applied to other forms of life----plants and animals?

Answer 1

The Aristotelean school hold the notion of an 'Animal Soul,' by which is meant the capacity to self-motivate, or react to one's environment in order to pursue one's own needs and desires. In this vein, the soul is set apart from religious connotations, and denotes merely awareness/the ability to adapt.

St. Francis and his followers also make reference to animal souls, and believing that all life participates in joyous communion with God through the natural processes of gathering food, having children, and dying.

I personally hold with the Aristotelean concept of 'soul,' applying it to animals and some humans in different degrees, based on their ability to perceive a concept of "I (self)" and approach that self as an object of examination and exploration.

Answer 2

Everything that has life can be considered as having 'soul'. ... When the life is no more there it means there is no soul in it. It is the life breath.
So long we believe that there is life in plants the concept can be applied. Only thing plants won't speak while animals express by various sounds. But the very sign of growth, flowering etc. does reveal that there is life in it so the concept of soul is applicable.

Answer 3

Because "soul" is primarily a religious concept, & we aren't all religious, I prefer "spirit." In my opinion, every living thing has spirit, energy. Perhaps incomprehensible to people who feel a sense of superiority, as humans, to any other living thing. Something rings a bell that someone said..."Humans are the highest developed living organisim." Hmm. Ego? Pomposity? I won't go into a diatribe about the highly tuned perceptions & communications between "other" creatures. Perhaps if we weren't so busy puffing, we could learn a great deal from them. Does this mean they have "soul?" Certainly not in religion. I've seen awesome sensitivity, logic, stocism, courage, love--in "other" creatures. Yes, even in plants. How would you define "soul" or "spirit?" Why would either be confined to humans who more destructive, greedy, & illogical of all?

Answer 4

what is the exact concept of SOUL? its such a fluid meaning depending on you own beliefs that without specification, the question is meaningless. You could mean a general life force, and as plants and animals are living things, it would apply to them too. You could be talking from a christian point of view, in which case no, as the soul is the spiritually perfect part of us made in God's image. You might not even believe in a soul! so really, it all just depends on what you mean.

Answer 5

Aristotle believed that is did. He understood as being a principle of existence that gave life to a given reality. However, plant and animal souls were of less significance in relation to a human soul, which imbued the human subject with a higher capacity for reason and will.

Answer 6

Where is the doubt ! Don' you see the leafs falling from tree, when one portion of the tree is cut, any animal dying. lot many symptoms could be seen. The ineffectiveness of plants / animal or their parts ! this represents the concept of "soul" only.

Answer 7

We all walk many paths, literally. Whereever we go, we leave a little bit of us behind; some places more than others. For this reason, everything on earth has a soul. Whether living or not, as something living has been touched or touched that area before.

Answer 8

We have no way of knowing having no means of gaging the consciousness of self in those outside our own species. For those who believe in the concept of the transmigration of souls, the answer would be yes since all participate in life.

Answer 9

Depends on understanding the meaning of Soul.

Answer 10

A 'concept' is a fabrication. We make them up. The 'soul' is a reality, not a concept, if only in the fact that it is written that I have one. Many cultures believe in the power of the totem, a nonhuman allie.