In Defense of the Soul: What It Means to Be Human - Softcover

Machuga, Ric

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1587430290 ISBN 13: 9781587430299

Publisher: Brazos Pr, 2002

Synopsis

The claims of evolution and, more recently, the proponents of artificial intelligence have brought into question what it means to be human. Denying the existence of the soul apart from the body, many contemporary scientists are devout materialists‹putting the traditional Aristotelian and Thomistic conception of the human being far out of fashion.

However, Ric Machuga argues convincingly that our nature "is an essential unity of both the material and the immaterial," that we not only have a soul but that we are a soul. The body is a necessary‹but not sufficient‹condition for human existence.

In Defense of the Soul is an accessible and timely treatment of a timeless topic: what it means to be human. Not only will it attract readers interested in artificial intelligence, evolution, and the intelligent design debate, it¹s ideal for introductory college and seminary courses in philosophy. It includes an appendix that specifically assesses intelligent design, as well as a thick bibliography that provides an excellent guide to other sources on the topic.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

What does it Mean to be Human?

The claims of evolution and, more recently, the proponents of artificial intelligence have brought into question what it means to be human. Denying the existence of the soul apart from the body, many contemporary scientists are devout materialists putting the traditional Aristotelian and Thomistic conception of the human being far out of fashion.

Ric Machuga, however, argues convincingly that our nature is an essential unity of both the material and the immaterial, that we not only have a soul but that we are a soul. The body is a necessary but not sufficient condition for human existence.

In Defense of the Soul is an accessible and timely treatment of a timeless topic. This book will it attract readers interested in artificial intelligence, evolution, and the intelligent design debate, and is ideal for introductory college and seminary courses in philosophy.

This is the kind of book many more philosophy teachers ought to be writing, bridging the gap between the technical and the popular, translating good philosophical arguments for true philosophical conclusions about important philosophical and human questions into terms, examples, and analogies any intelligent reader can follow.
Peter Kreeft, author of Catholic Christianity and coauthor of The Handbook of Christian Apologetics

About the Author:

RIC MACHUGA is professor of philosophy at Butte College in Oroville, California. He is a contributor to Books & Culture and other journals.

About this edition

• Publisher: Brazos Pr
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1587430290
• ISBN 13: 9781587430299
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 204