Sin death and beyond

SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN
soul is formally one i.e. is one soul and virtually two i.e. has the power of two souls -
vegetative and sensitive. For the animal has the perfection of the plant and more. The
sensitive soul is intrinsically dependent on matter and returns to the potency of matter
when the body of the animal fails.
Human Soul
The human soul is that which gives life to a man. The human soul is both a soul and a
spirit, but it is not two things - it is one spiritual soul. Because it is spiritual the human soul
is created immediately by God in the body prepared by the parents - it is not educed from
the potency of matter. The human soul being spiritual is also immortal and so it lives on
after the body dies. The human soul is not only a principle of life, it is also a thing in itself -
as a spirit - and can thus exist without the body.
The human soul is infinitely superior to the souls of animals and plants because it is
spiritual and immortal and has the properties of intellect and free will. The human soul
united with its body is the root or radical principle of all man's acts, habits and powers.
Because man is both corporeal and spiritual certain of his powers are organic i.e. belonging
to body and soul, and others are inorganic i.e. belonging to the soul alone. The organic
powers e.g. nutrition, sight, imagination, irascible appetite etc have organs in the body and
fail when the body dies. They are said to remain radically in the separated soul. The
inorganic powers, i.e. intellect and will, are spiritual and so have no organ in the body, but
continue to exist and operate in the soul when it is separated from the body at death.
The human soul is formally one i.e. is one soul and virtually three i.e. has the power of
three, vegetative, sensitive and intellective.
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