There is a universality of living things...something animates it. Dead or alive is such a fundamental binary it's hard to deny it exists.
However, a blade of grass has almost no awareness other than growing towards light an water, but a dog, why, it has emotions and expressions and limited self awareness. Crows are smarter, so to speak, than a new born human.
I suppose the thing I'm saying here is that there is no switch over in the mechanics of what makes something alive once the creature becomes complex enough. The soul, which animates the living thing, gets more complex along with the complexity of the living thing.
This is a fun philosophical exercise- one that is ultimately unknowable. The consciousness field permeates through the universe- like gravity. My belief is that field is what animates life itself. A soul (insofar as I understand it) would require a level of consciousness high enough to be aware of its own existence- something a blade of grass lacks, but a crow absolutely has in spades.
I really have no idea if that’s where the line gets drawn (or, to your point, if there’s a line at all between consciousness and presence of soul), but it makes logical sense (to me, anyway) that a soul would have to be aware of itself to exist beyond this realm once it’s physical vessel perishes.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this subject.
I would disagree with your comment about a blade of grass. It has been proven that plants communicate with one another, feel pain, react to harm, and seek environments to their benefit.
One example, trees communicate with one another through their root systems. It has been documented that if a tree is being damaged, it will send signals to other trees around it, and they will produce chemicals to strengthen their branches and trunk.
Every living this has a soul, from a blade of grass to a tree to a cicada to a lion to a human. While only humans have a rational soul.
The NPC meme merely shows that most people don't do much rational thinking.
Consciousness at some level, sure. A soul is a bit much for a blade of grass.
There is a universality of living things...something animates it. Dead or alive is such a fundamental binary it's hard to deny it exists.
However, a blade of grass has almost no awareness other than growing towards light an water, but a dog, why, it has emotions and expressions and limited self awareness. Crows are smarter, so to speak, than a new born human.
I suppose the thing I'm saying here is that there is no switch over in the mechanics of what makes something alive once the creature becomes complex enough. The soul, which animates the living thing, gets more complex along with the complexity of the living thing.
This is a fun philosophical exercise- one that is ultimately unknowable. The consciousness field permeates through the universe- like gravity. My belief is that field is what animates life itself. A soul (insofar as I understand it) would require a level of consciousness high enough to be aware of its own existence- something a blade of grass lacks, but a crow absolutely has in spades.
I really have no idea if that’s where the line gets drawn (or, to your point, if there’s a line at all between consciousness and presence of soul), but it makes logical sense (to me, anyway) that a soul would have to be aware of itself to exist beyond this realm once it’s physical vessel perishes.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this subject.
I would disagree with your comment about a blade of grass. It has been proven that plants communicate with one another, feel pain, react to harm, and seek environments to their benefit.
One example, trees communicate with one another through their root systems. It has been documented that if a tree is being damaged, it will send signals to other trees around it, and they will produce chemicals to strengthen their branches and trunk.
Check it out, it is fascinating. When
Very well, then it provides more evidence that every living thing, even a tree, has a soul.
I find that the Shinto religion best describes the blade of grass idea.