THE DEATH WATCH-THIRTY

My cousin again raises some interesting points in answer to my latest entry so I thought I would share this with you. This also may turn into a two parter because it now looks too long for one sitting.

Let me start with part of what he wrote.

What is this SOUL we keep talking about? In eulogies we often say that the deceased “will live with us forever” meaning that we are not going to forget him for a long time. Now let me tell you about this theory I have been entertaining for a long time, regarding the human soul. You are probably aware, Michael, that during your lifetime, you have known thousands of people, some of which became to be (as we say) “close to your heart”. Each of these people has left his mark on your consciousness. Some, very little, and some much more. Now, if you regard this consciousness of yours, you can say that it consists of a large amount of imprints, left by events you have been experiencing and of images and impressions of friends, relatives and others, some alive and others who have died.
Take your father, as an example: He, most certainly, keeps “living” in your consciousness. Physically he has been dead for a long time, but he, from time to time “comes to your mind”. According to this theory of mine, this image of your father is a part of his soul. His soul does exist, as well, in the consciousness of others (mine, for instance). So, what actually is this soul?

My first response was the following note I sent him via e-mail yesterday;

It is always a pleasure to hear from you, especially since you delve into such interesting subjects. This latest letter is going to require some research since I am not sure that I fully agree with the use of the word “soul”. I’m not sure that Shakespeare said “The show must go on” but I do believe that he said “A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. I agree that a piece of someone lives with you after they have died and I agree that there is a part of the person who has died within the ones who loved him or her, but I’m not sure that I would call it the “soul”.
Although I agree that I have known a lot of people in my life and some of them were closer to me than others, I can’t agree that what I remember of them is their “soul”. I have always felt, and I got this idea from my father, that when someone dies you ought to remember them as you knew them when they were alive and healthy, not sick and dying. I do remember and have thoughts about my father, especially if I find myself in a tight situation or a situation that requires tact and a good word, but I would have a hard time describing that as a soulful experience.
I will pursue this concept further after I do some research and give it some thought but, as I said, it is hard for me to identify this process as dealing with a “soul”.
After doing some “web research” I came up with the following items:
“The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the self-aware essence unique to a particular living being. In these traditions the soul is thought to incorporate the inner essence of each living being, and to be the true basis for sapience. (Sapience, usually defined as wisdom since it is the ability of an organism or entity to act with judgment. Judgment is a mental facility that is a particular form of intelligence or may be considered an additional facility, above intelligence, with its own properties.) It is believed in many cultures and religions that the soul is the unification of one's sense of identity. Souls are usually considered to be immortal and to exist prior to incarnation.
The concept of the soul has strong links with notions of an afterlife, but opinions may vary wildly, even within a given religion, as to what may happen to the soul after the death of the body. Many within these religions and philosophies see the soul as immaterial, while others consider it to possibly have a material component, and some have even tried to establish the weight of the soul.”

This is a definition for “soul” that I found on-line and reinforces what I believe, that “soul” is tied to religion and the concept of an afterlife. Since I don’t believe in either I reject the use of the word in the way you have described it. In fact, there are some African peoples that won’t allow their pictures to be taken because they believe that by taking their picture you take something away from them. They may very well agree with your use of the word “soul”.
What you have described is what I would call memories. In addition, what you refer to as “consciousness”, I would prefer to think of as experiences. The concept of “conscious” also implies a thought process that is outside of the control of the individual.
I don’t agree that your theory is “metaphysical”. It is a religious belief that relies on the existence of a so-called “higher power”, and that takes away the individual’s ability to think for himself. It is this “consciousness” and “soul” that symbolize the faith upon which religion is based.