Long Answers: Immortality- Plato and Aristotle

Question 1

Eternal Forms

Answer 1

Plato believed in a realism of eternal forms or ideas which he considered to be more real and immutable than the physical world

Question 2

Immortal Soul

Answer 2

For Plato, the soul was unchanging and immortal. He thought that the soul’s true nature is eternal, pre-existing before birth, and continues to exist after death. He sae the body as mortal and impermanent, while the soul persisted beyond bodily existence.

Question 3

Transmigration of the Soul

Answer 3

Plato discussed the concept of reincarnation or transmigration of souls. He suggested that the soul goes through multiple cycles of life and death, inhabiting different bodies as ur seeks higher truths and moral perfection.

Question 4

Quest for Eternal Truth

Answer 4

According to Plato, the purpose of life was to pursue knowledge and understanding. of the eternal forms. By aligning with these unchanging truths through philosophical inquiry, individuals could elevate her souls and approach a closer union with the divine and eternal.

Question 5

Aristotle: Moral Soul

Answer 5

Unlike Plato, who believed in the immortality of the Soul, Aristotle proposed that the soul is not immortal. He argued that the soul is the form of the body and therefore inseparable from the body. When the body dies, the soul also ceases to exist.

Question 6

Aristotle: Hierarchy of Souls

Answer 6

Aristotle categorized souls into three types: vegetative (plants), sensitive (animals), and rational (humans). He didn’t assign immortality to any of these souls, considering them to be inherent qualities of living organisms

Question 7

Aristotle: Enduring Influence

Answer 7

Instead of personal immortality, Aristotle believed that individuals could achieve a from of enduring influence through their actions and contributions to society. This influence could continue to the memories and legacies they would leave behind.