Are there any instruments (theoretical or not) that can detect the matter contained in a spirit?

Answer 1

You can use a mass spectrometer. I'm sure there are many ways to test for alcohol in spirits.

Answer 2

No. However, Thomas Edison towards the end of his life was working on a device to communicate with the dead. By the usual definitions "spirit" is not made of matter at all and is of a different order of nature. Nothing was more destructive to philosophy and science than Body-Spirit duality. The wiser among us realize that "spirit" or "soul" is nothing but a consequence or manifestation of the mind, itself a product of brain chemistry. That which is called "spirit" is born with the body, grows with the body, and dies with the body. It has no more separate existence than a shadow has from the body that it is linked with. Not surprisingly, the ancients often refered to the "shades" of the dead. One enterprising fellow attempted to weigh persons before and after their death to find out how much the "spirit" weighs. Like Edison with his device for talking to dead guys a good example of a fine mind overwrought by superstition. Even the most brilliant among us can go off the deep end from time to time and take a walk in the twilight zone instead of the light of reality.

Why not spend more effort making this world a better place for the living than waste time on the dead? Spirit is nothing but a manifestation of beings who possess a physical body. As such it has no independent existence and can be classed as a logical fiction. Spirit to body is like the sound of a violin that is played and the violin. No violin, no music. No body, no spirit.

It always amazes me that the sex act is capable of creating an entity that can exist for all eternity. Rather improbable to say the least. As Lucretius said "Body and spirit are one, they are born together, grow together and die together." and elsewhere "You did not exist prior to your conception and it caused you no problems at all. Why then do you cower as a fool at the thought of annihilation at death?".

All this talk of ghosts, spirits, and afterlives is the talk of cowards unable to face reality, so they fabricate a pleasant illusion to console their egotistical hearts at the inevitability of their demise. So let them build their devices all they want, meanwhile condemning certain of the living poor to die of starvation, want and neglect. Their basic philosophy is "I'm such a fine fellow, it'd be a crime for God or Nature to allow me to perish." More often than not, it'd be a crime for God or Nature NOT to allow them to perish!

The question "Who made me?" is easy to answer. The answer is nothing but "My parents made me." The question "What is the meaning of life?" equally simple. It is whatever meaning you make of it or create for yourself by your actions, thoughts and desires. There is no external meaning thrust upon you whatsoever. You are the arbiter of your own destiny, the creator of your own fate, like it or not.

But almost every year, some doofus tries to patent a device that can detect spirits, weigh the dead, communicate with dead Grandmas. Very funny stuff! Thank goodness we have people like that to make life less boring!

Answer 3

Yes. An E-meter.

Answer 4

Well, yeah...the Ghostbusters had a whole bunch of them!