The rational soul of man has supernatural, infinite aspirations. If the
rational soul were dependent upon the body and died together with the body, it
should necessarily submit to the body and follow it in all its appetites.
Independence would have been contrary both to the laws of nature and to reason,
because it disturbs the harmony between the body and the soul. As dependent
upon the body it should submit to the body and follow in all its appetites and
desires, whereas, on the contrary, the soul masters the body, imposes its will
upon the body. The soul subjugates and curbs the appetites and passions of the
body, and directs them as it (the soul) wills. This phenomenon comes to the
attention of every rational man; and whoever is conscious of his own rational
soul is conscious of the soul's mastery over the body.
The mastery of the soul over the body is proved by the obedience of the body
when it is being led with self-denial to sacrifice for the sake of the abstract
ideas of the soul. The domination by the soul for prevalence of its principles,
ideas, and views would have been entirely incomprehensible if the soul died
together with the body. But a mortal soul would never have risen to such a
height, would never have condemned itself to death along with the body for the
prevalence of abstract ideas that lacked meaning, since no noble idea, no noble
and courageous thought has any meaning for a mortal soul.
A soul, therefore, which is capable of such things, must be immortal.
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