Possible parallels in Ecclesiastes’ and Aristotle’s reflections concerning the eternity and immortality of the soul in correlation with its intellectual and ethical merits

Abstract

Comparing Ecclesiastes’ thoughts attested in Eccl. 3:10–11, 21; 7:29, 8:5–7, 11–14, 11:5, 9, 12:3–7, 14 with Aristotle’s ideas recorded in his treatises On the Soul (II, 2, 413a3–10, 413b24–25; III, 5, 430а22–25; V, 4, 430а1–4), Metaphysics (XII, 1070а26, 1074b1–14), and Nicomachean Ethics (I, 11, 1100a29–30, 1101a35–1101b9; X, 7, 1177a11–1178a8, cf. also Protrepticus, fr. 10c), the author tries to reveal possible parallels in these thinkers’ views on the eternity and immortality of the spirit/soul and posthumous requital in correlation with its rational and moral merits.

Keywords

• Ecclesiastes
• Aristotle
• eternity and immortality of the spirit/soul
• “parts” of the soul
• “actual mind”