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VIEWPOINTS: Do animals have souls?

According to the American Pets Products Association, we spent more than $50 billion on our pets last year. And most American households, 63 percent, have at least one pet at home.

Read the full Viewpoints question here or continue on to the response below.

What is a soul?

My answer to this question will have to be short.  The reason for this is, as stated, I'm not exactly sure what the question means.  One first needs to define the term "soul" before he/she can consider whether an animal possesses such a thing.  In fact, the term "soul" isn't even well-defined for humans, so answering this question is, a fortiori, more difficult.

I have a suspicion, though, that what is intended is some immaterial substance, which animates the animal and survives death.  If this is the case, then I think the answer is unequivocally no. This won't be a popular answer, but there is absolutely no reason nor evidence to suggest that this is the case beyond human sentimentality and emotional attachment. 

Topics: Culture, Social Issues
Beliefs: Freethought (Atheist, Humanist, Agnostic)
Tags: definition of soul

Other Responses to This Viewpoint

I believe animals do have souls

I believe animals do have souls. If a God-created and God-given spirit or soul is what animates all of us humans, and I believe it is, then it makes sense that it is the same thing that gives life to animals and all living creatures
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I believe animals obviously have a spirit

I believe animals obviously have a spirit to give life, but man is the only creation that has a soul created in the image of God.
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I am not sure I could give an exact definition of “soul”

I am not sure I could give an exact definition of "soul".
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Yes, animals have souls

I love this question!  Yes, animals have souls. Buddhists believe that the intangible immeasurable portion of a person that makes up what is best described as a soul does not simply vanish when they are gone but it redistributed and moved into a new vessel. This concept is widely known as reinca...
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