Humans Are Only Genes

In Plato’s Republic, Book IV, Socrates discusses the ability of using two parts of a soul to interact in contradicting behavior towards the same object. He defines this as an interpretation that creates two distinct parts of the human soul: 1) the ration part of reason, and 2) the non-rational part of appetite. These two opposing parts are meant to provide insight on what defines a just person, in that when a person is able to apply the parts of the soul in union, it implies that the parts of the soul are properly working as a unit and not demeaning one another. Socrates goes on to suggest a third part of the soul, the part of spirit, and suggests that “provided it hasn’t been corrupted by a bad upbringing” (441a), it feeds that rational part of the soul. Socrates draws on the concept that when a soul is acting in unison, it is properly functioning and is therefore just, a concept that he states is analogous to the idea that a properly functioning body is therefore healthy.

Dawkins' gene is a personified entity, seemingly to the extent that it is an independent being to an extent. The "machines", therefore, are subjected to programming of sorts by the genes. Capable of selfish and altruistic behavior, the gene "reaches" outside of the human body to interact with its environment (3). "With only a little imagination we can see the gene as sitting at the centre of a radiating web of extended phenotypic power," stated Dawkins (3). By granting "phenotypic power", the genotype (as determined by the interaction of genes) behaves in such a manner which dictates the phenotype, or physical expression of the gene. By following this pattern—interaction between the gene and its environment, it is arguable that the environment is actually governing genotypic behavior. By this, the environment is not merely a factor manipulated by the gene, but instead can manipulate the gene itself.

Plato’s theory of the simplicity of the soul is seen in the Phaedo. Through the mouthpiece of Socrates, Plato argues for a simple soul which only has one true aim. He states that the soul only seeks truth and that all other senses and experiences are merely distractions through the soul being embodied ‘the soul reasons best when none of these senses troubles it, neither hearing nor sight, nor pain nor pleasure, but when it is most by itself, taking leave of the body and as far as possible having no contact or association with it in its search for reality.’ (Plato, 1997, §65c). The simple soul can only aim to grasp the truth of reality which it gets closer to as man becomes closer to death. This is why, in Plato’s opinion, a philosopher in particular can

There are many different species in the world which, according to Darwin, all came from one source, e.g. a bacteria or organism. Within each species, natural variation occurs, therefore the individual beings within the specie look different from one another. These differences are caused by genetic makeup (50% from your mum, 50% from your dad). There are some genes like down-syndrome that get switched on when combined with other genes. Some genes can also undergo mutation- a random change (e.g. being born with six fingers, instead of five). Most mutations are harmful, for example

​The soul is our higher essence and actually creates our physical bodies and infuses us with life. Connecting with the soul is essential for healing and allows access to greater awareness, knowledge, creativity and connection to our Source of Creation, or

Like, the body and a being being dead or alive. The soul is what remains the bridging factor between the two.

Purpose Throughout the Apology, Socrates explains how God chose him to explore the unexamined life. “God appointed me as I supposed and believed, to the duty of leading the philosophic life, examining myself and others…” (Apology 28e) He compares himself to a Gadfly that goes around annoying people in order for them to assess their flaws. Most believe that their purpose in life is to achieve the highest good prioritize, summum bonum.

My position on the argument is that we as humans do have a soul. I believe this to be true, as I find it hard to believe that this is it for us; Just this mortal existence. This physical form cannot be the end of us, as the connections and emotions we have with people, animals, and nature cannot be properly explained by neurotransmitters and heart rates. I have discussed this argument of a human soul with peers and have asked each one of them the question, “If you sit on a shoreline, watching the waves come rolling in, or in the middle of a forest with tall trees and bright green ground cover, alone with just you and nature. Do you feel a connection outside of yourself?” Most of them agreed, that there is a connection felt, between them and something greater. An unexplainable force that is not tangible, but felt

Plato’s theory of the soul and the Homunculus theory of human cognition are two distinct theories that both allude to the concept of a mind having smaller parts within it that are assigned to certain tasks and each responsible for the function of a certain cognitive capacity which, together, explain some aspect of the functioning of the whole Both theories use this cognitivist concept as an attempt to explain the complexity of the human mind and how the mind can function in multiple ways at once. However, the theories differ in a major way. Plato’s theory of the soul is a famous and controversial theory– which has been pondered since antiquity. The Homunculus theory is a

Summary: In chapter four, author James Rachels discusses the idea of souls being present throughout life. He mentions the death of Socrates and how he believed that the soul did live on after death. Socrates believed the soul could not be broken down into simpler components, whereas physical objects can be destroyed to smaller parts. Rachels points out the evidence that goes against this argument. First off, scientists do not talk about the soul because there is no proof that it exists. Instead, they talk about the brain being in control of the body, its behaviors, and emotions. Therefore, the brain would be considered the soul because without it a person would not be conscious. The second idea Rachels points out is that consciousness depends on the brain’s ability to function. For instance, if a person’s brain fails to function, that would cause him or her to lose consciousness. In other

The fundamental question that has been around for centuries is this aspect of “What it Means To Be Human?. What are the defining characteristics that make us different from animals?. There are so many different features and theories that can be used to answer this particular question. Humans are such complex beings; they consist of emotions, diverse behaviours and physical characteristics. Humans are a distinct species that differ from others species in the world. It can be difficult to pinpoint this difference because humans allow their emotions to ultimately make their decisions. Humans act based on a variety of factors that are learned or inherited through genetics. The real question is how much of our genetics effect our thinking and decision

The soul is a complex thing, it can be described or characterized in a number of things, and everyone has their own understanding of what exactly the soul is. The soul can be who you are as a person- your being, or it could simply just be an aspect of your being; and some don’t believe in the existence of the soul at all. Phaedo, Aristotle, and Locke all believe that the soul does in fact exist. However, they believe in the soul in varying degrees because they each understand the soul as something different, giving it different characteristics.

Each chapter in the book has a specific idea about genes and their reactions. Everyone in the world and every animal has the nature to be aggressive. Natural selection deals with every species in the world. In chapter five, Dawkins explains the aggression of species. The aggression of species is what holds natural selection. In chapter six, the theory of genemanship and individual altruism. Individual altruism is when the actions of one person or animal increase the skills of another. Individual altruism has an impact with genes because of the theory that genes could combine to become stronger. Everyone in the world has genes, and every gene has a purpose. In chapter seven Dawkin explains his thoughts on how a human or an animal decides whether it is time to create offspring. Offspring is children and every living organism can produce offspring. Creating offspring is very important because it makes the species pool bigger and adds more variation in the world. Dawkins says on page 122, “animals optimize their birth-rates rather than restrict them for

What is a soul? The spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal regarded as immortal. Many Philosophers studied the soul in several ways in order to get the point of what is the soul. Although sometimes it is confusing to understand what is meant because it is explained in other ways and used in examples. The Philosopher Aristotle came to the conclusion that the soul is the first grade of actuality of a natural organized body. He uses it in the axe and eye as examples but yes it might be confusing but at the end it will make sense in what he means.

As Plato advocates that soul belongs to different order from body, so it cannot be set alongside the body as homogeneous entity. The soul’s penchant is towards another world. It becomes evident, why the senses are envisaged, not as windows but as bars, since so far as the physical nature of man is concerned it is not just a matter of noting, ontologically, the finite character of its existence, but rather one making an ethical and religious value-judgment on this earthly life form the viewpoint of higher destiny. Only when the soul has undergone an inner transformation and been duly prepared for this it can looks at the body in a fresh light, as it were, and so discover as meaningful affinity between soul and body, which serves to orientate man towards the higher reality.