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References:
Title: On Plants
Author: Aristotle
Venue: Edited by Jonathan Barnes; 1994
Summary:In this paper, Aristotle argues that plants have souls in the same way that animals do. He does this by describing the great varieties in plants as there is in animals, as well as how plants grow and change during their lives like animals. He then talks about how animals are affected by the presence or absence of the elements, similar to animals. Finally, he describes how changes in location can change plants like they change animals.
Comments:
I found his argument interesting because it is made during the early days of science. Since they didn't have as much of an understanding of the processes of organic beings, they described them in terms of elements. Despite this, at the time, I believe his argument is reasonably sound. Since plants have the myriad variations that animals do, and since they respond to many stimuli like animals do, it is reasonable to assume that they would have souls like animals do, assuming you think souls exist, of course. Interestingly enough, since computers can respond from outside input and require outside elements to work, a case could be made for computers to have souls as well. However, after reading the Chinese Room paper, I am inclined to disagree.
(image courtesy of the Colorado Carnivorous Plants Society)
You make a great point that given his resources he made a sound argument. I agree that using this kind of logic to argue that computers have souls is too much of a stretch.
ReplyDeleteIf you believe such things, the Catholic church has a pretty interesting standpoint on the nature of the soul. It boils down to this: the material nature of the soul is present in all things that are alive, e.g. plants and animals; and there is a spiritual aspect as well, that which is given to us by our Creator. If you believe such things :)
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