Aristotle defined human beings as rational animals. We are
animals insofar as we are embodied. And our embodiment in biological organisms
makes us suitable objects of study by the natural sciences of physics,
chemistry, and biology. But we are also rational,
and, given a Christian perspective, spiritual
animals. Can the natural sciences provide a complete explanation of our
rationality and spirituality? If we are rational and spiritual in virtue of
having or being immaterial souls, then the answer is “no.” If substance dualism
is true, our full understanding of ourselves will have to be based on
additional, non-natural human sciences.
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