(October 24, 2010 at 11:27 am)Chuck Wrote: No, that's not. When the mechanism for pain in an immortal, immaterial soul has not been outlined, there can be no reason to insist pain must correlate to degrees of damage.If you argue that mechanism for the soul's "sensory system" hasn't even been established then this places you in a predicament - how can anyone then claim the soul is either experiencing bliss in heaven or torment in hell. I'm sure you'll agree that the concept itself is absurd, but I'm actually addressing Plato's indestructible soul concept here.
(October 24, 2010 at 11:58 am)Tiberius Wrote: Pain is induced in normal human beings by signals sent to the brain using the nervous system. These signals are usually caused by some kind of harm / damage to the person (i.e. a cut), but you can manipulate the nerves to send the signals even if no harm or damage is done to the body.This is what I'm trying to point out with the apparent incompatibility of Plato's soul and the doctrine of hell. A supposed realm, state or tormenting place for sinners cannot work if the soul is immune to the effects of being actively punished, it’s never described as a "simulation" of pain, unless theists consider separation from god punishment enough of course.
So pain is simply a feeling, and there isn't anything contradictory about an indestructible or immortal being feeling pain, as long as that pain wasn't caused by some form of harm / damage to the being.
