By Daniel Brouse
What is “for real” depends on the context of your question, but generally, it refers to what is genuine, authentic, or true. In philosophy and science, determining what is “real” often involves asking questions like:
- Existential Reality: Does something exist independently of perception or belief? For example, physical objects like trees or mountains exist regardless of human thought.
- Subjective Reality: Is something real because it is perceived or experienced by an individual? For instance, emotions and personal experiences are real to the person experiencing them, even if they are not tangible.
- Consensus Reality: Is something real because most people agree on its existence or validity? For example, societal constructs like money or laws.
- Scientific Reality: Can something be measured, tested, or observed within the framework of scientific methods? For example, gravity and DNA are considered real because they can be studied and confirmed through evidence.
Subjective reality and consensus reality are influenced by feelings, emotions, and beliefs, whether or not they are grounded in truth. In contrast, existential reality and scientific reality are based on objective facts. For example, consider the question, “Which way is down?” From a subjective or consensus perspective, your “down” might be perceived as my “up.” However, from a scientific perspective, down is determined by the direction of gravitational pull, making it consistent and objective—down is down, and up is up.
Heaven, the Soul, and the Meaning of Life
“The soul is metaphysical” — raises an important distinction that needs clarification. Metaphysics deals with fundamental questions such as “What exists?” and “What is the nature of reality?” using reason, logic, and philosophical argumentation. By its nature, metaphysics explores concepts that may not be material or observable but are central to understanding existence.
I am presenting an argument to prove the existence of the soul, bridging the gap between metaphysics and physical science. To say “the soul, which is real in a non-material way, has primacy” inadvertently undermines the argument by implying the soul is simultaneously “real” and “not real.” This contradiction is reminiscent of the phrase “there is a ghost in the machine,” suggesting something intangible or supernatural animates the physical body without providing a coherent explanation.
My perspective seeks to resolve this paradox. I argue that the soul is both metaphysical and physical, existing in the form of DNA. DNA embodies the essence of who we are, containing the information that defines life, carries forward ancestral experiences, and evolves over generations. It connects us to the larger biological framework of life, making it a tangible representation of what we often perceive as the “soul.”
In this view, the soul is not a mystical or purely metaphysical construct. It is grounded in physical reality while carrying profound metaphysical implications. By framing the soul as DNA, we can reconcile philosophical and scientific perspectives, offering a clear, logical basis for its existence. This approach elevates the discussion of the soul beyond abstract speculation, situating it within a framework that respects both metaphysical inquiry and empirical evidence.