Different in degree or kind: EVOLUTION (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, January 02, 2015, 13:19 (3395 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: I am a substance dualist. [...] The Jewish religion depicts the human soul at a much higher plane than the animal soul, simple versus very complex. And I believe in an afterlife.
dhw: A “much higher plane” clearly indicates degree and not kind.-DAVID: You are playing with words. The degree of difference in human and animal thought is so vast as to indicate a difference in kind.-I am simply pointing out the implications of your own words.-dhw: If the human soul is separate from the human body, and is responsible for thought, it seems only logical to assume that the souls of all other organisms are also separate and responsible for their particular forms of thought. This would be what you call a “pattern”.
DAVID: Probably true. The body acts as a carrier or container for the soul. That is about as far as my thoughts have every gone. I equate 'self' and soul.-The point of all our discussions is to extend the range of our thoughts. Here we are trying to understand the ramifications of your beliefs, and this may be of benefit to both of us.
 
dhw:Two questions: 
1) Do you believe ALL organisms have souls, and if not, where do souls start to appear?
DAVID: I have accepted Jewish teachings that animals have souls, and I have assumed they appear at birth.-Sorry, my question obviously wasn't clear. I meant which organisms do you think have souls? I'll assume that “animals have souls” = cats, dogs, horses, but what about worms and bacteria? Where do you think the borderline starts between organisms with souls and organisms without?-dhw: 2) Do you believe there are gradations of soul complexity among other organisms, e.g. from a chimpanzee to a duck to a worm to a bacterium (or wherever you think souls start to appear)?
DAVID: I only know of consciousness complexity. I have no idea about single-celled souls. Sounds ridiculous to me. Worm story from college philosophy: Eastern thought is that worms have souls. But worms will recreate if cut into ten parts. Are ten souls recreated? Question was never answered by he Eastern priest, subject of the interview quoted. -This goes back to my previous question. Once you establish your personal borderline between animals with and without souls, please tell me if you believe there are gradations of consciousness/soul complexity between, say, the chimpanzee and the duck?-dhw: You will probably guess what questions are coming next, but we should take this exploration one step at a time!
DAVID: Have no idea where you are going. My knowledge here is very weak religiously.-I am not talking religiously, and I am not talking about knowledge. I am talking about your own beliefs, which have led you to a very precise (though sometimes changing) view of evolution. My next question(s) will depend on your answer to those about borderlines and gradations, and take it from me that this is leading somewhere. Have faith, dear friend!