Introduction
The human soul is the immaterial essence of a person, which combines individuality and humanity and is often seen as the representation of the mind or the self. Thus, immortality is the ability of the human soul to continue existing for an indefinite period, even after death. It entails a never-ending existence and does not depend on whether the body dies. Augustine, Aquinas, and Averroes explored the nature of the human soul and its qualities, but also questioned the possibility of individual immortality.
Comparison of Philosophical Views
Aquinas
Aristotle’s influence is seen in Aquinas’s perspective toward the soul, which he considers immoral and continues to exist after death because it is a spiritual principle that gives the body life. Importantly, Aquinas questioned whether something incorruptible, such as the soul, would be provided with a corruptible body, stating that “it would seem that the intellectual soul is not fittingly united to such a body […] Therefore it is not fittingly united to a corruptible body” (Aquinas, 1997, p. 710). Aquinas demonstrates the soul’s immortality by saying it is incorruptible and provides examples of ways in which things can be corruptible, illustrating that the soul cannot, while material things can. He states that for something to be corrupted, it can either be done accidentally or intentionally, which is impossible for the soul.
The terminology of incorruptibility as the foundation of Aquinas’ argument was used in three suggestions made by the philosopher. First, he suggested that it was necessary to assert the intellectual principle in which the human soul is considered incorruptible. Second, from what has been said, it is clearly shown that every intellectual substance is incorruptible.
Third, it should be stated that the human soul must be incorruptible. In the example, one may think that Aquinas consciously avoids the terminology of the soul’s immortality; however, the philosopher mentioned that “if the resurrection of the body is denied, it is not easy, it is difficult, to maintain the immortality of the soul” (as cited in p. 209). It should be noted that immortality and incorruptibility are not used interchangeably and have a distinct formal difference. While incorruptibility concerns being or existence, immortality concerns the capacity to live or vital activity.
Augustine
Augustine stated that a person is a rational substance that consists of the soul and the body. When arguing for immortality, the philosopher noted that the soul represents the principle of life; for it to die, it must take on the principle of death. However, because the principles of life and death are contrary to one another, they are incompatible, which means that the soul cannot die and is thus immortal.
Another argument that Augustine makes in favor of the soul’s immortality is based on desire, on which the essence of the human soul is rooted in the aspiration to eternity. In turn, God created the human soul, which would not have been made initially had it resulted in an ultimate expiration. In Augustine’s view, the human soul must be considered immortal. Therefore, the philosopher initially presents arguments for the soul’s immortality in the human mind and secondarily in the Christian Scriptures and their teachings.
Augustine argues that the soul is reality because of its capacity to provide reason. Truth exists in the soul and cannot be detached from it, but Truth is immortal, which means that the soul is also immortal. The truth is applied to the soul, and it is argued that the two have an unbreakable relationship. The soul is a rational entity that actualizes its essence into the corporeal and material body to become a human fully. In such a view, only substances that can reason can have an immortal soul.
Averroes
Averroes argued that the text of the scripture should have an allegorical interpretation if it contradicts conclusions reached by philosophers. When commenting on the ontology of the human soul, Averroes blatantly refused, allowing for a double truth theory, one rooted in religious matters and another based on philosophy. Instead, he argued that the idea of the afterlife of a person’s soul should be affirmed in a religious doctrine, even though there could be a variation in opinion. The impact of Islam is present in such a position, which explains the impact of religion on the understanding of the human soul and life after death.
Conclusion
Therefore, all three philosophers agree on the existence of the soul and its capacity to reach immortality. While Averroes emphasized religious doctrines regarding soul immortality, Aquinas and Augustine allowed for other interpretations besides religion.
References
Aquinas, T., & Pegis, A. C. (1997). Basic writings of St. Thomas Aquinas (vol. 2). Hackett Publishing.
Farmer, L. L. (2003). Straining the limits of philosophy: Aquinas on the immortality of the human soul. Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers, 20(2), 208-217.