The Evolution of the Soul

Richard Swinburne

Clarendon Press, 1997 - Philosophy - 360 pages

Human beings have evolved from animals, and animals from inanimate matter, but what has evolved is qualitatively different from the inanimate matter from which it began. Both humans and the higher animals have a mental life of sensation, thought, purpose, desire, and belief. Although these mental states in part cause, and are caused by, brain states, they are distinct from them. Richard Swinburne argues that we can only make sense of this interaction by supposing that mental states are states of a soul, a mental substance in interaction with the body. Although both have a rich mental life, human souls, unlike animal souls, are capable of logical thought, have moral beliefs, have free will, and have an internal structure. Professor Swinburne concludes that there is no full scientific explanation available for the evolution of the soul, and almost certainly there never will be. --From publisher's description.

What people are saying

Review: The Evolution of the Soul

User Review  - Danny - Goodreads

Really good book. I would give it 5 stars if it were not for his torturous prose! Very interesting insights, whether he intended to or not, concerning moral formation.

Review: The Evolution of the Soul

User Review  - Marcos - Goodreads

In a nutshell, this is a philosophy book with a focus on a theory of ontology. It can be very technical, but it makes a lot of great insight for the Christian Worldview for deeper understanding of dualistic metaphysics.

About the author

Richard Swinburne is Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Oriel College, since 1985. He was previously Professor of Philosophy at the University of Keele. He is the author of many notable books on the philosophy of religion in general and of the philosophy of Christianity in particular. Most recently, he offered general readers a powerful and lucid defence of religious belief in the modern world, in Is There a God? (Oxford University Press, 1996).

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Evolution of the Soul
• Author: Richard Swinburne
• Edition: 2, revised
• Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1997
• ISBN: 0198236999, 9780198236993
• Length: 360 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics; Philosophy / Mind & Body; Philosophy / Movements / Humanism; Religion / General; Religion / Theology