Plato and Aristotle's ideas on the Soul

In the history of Philosophy, there have been thinkers who have argued that the mind and body are very distinct, separate things. Plato and Descartes are particulary renowned for this view and it is an idea which had been very influential on Christian thought.

PLATO

Dualist - mind and body are two separate substances; it is possible to survive death as the soul disembodies. Human beings consist of both physical bodies and non physical minds which is the essence of a person.

He believed the soul has existed prior to being in the present body and on death, will leave the body. The soul is on a higher level of reality than the body as the body is concerned with senses, the soul with reason. The soul is not always perfect, the body drags it down. 

The body is the physical, temporary, material aspect of a person and the soul is the essential, immaterial aspect. The soul would be released from the body and able to renew its contemplation of the Form of the Good. The soul can reach its highest state after death. 

Every quality comes into being from its own opposite, or atleast depends on its opposite to have any existence at all. 

TRIPARTITE VIEW - 3 elements: appetite, emotion, reason. 

CHARIOTEER ANALOGY - Two horses (emotion, appetite) pull chariot controlled by charioteer (reason) working in…