Existence of a Soul

[Epicc]

I read in the Lost Symbol that a soul had a weight, and since Dan Brown said all the facts used in this story were true I was intrigued.

So I did a simple google search and came out with this:

SOUL HAS WEIGHT, PHYSICIAN THINKS; Dr. Macdougall of Haverhill Tells of Experiments at Death. LOSS TO BODY RECORDED Scales Showed an Ounce Gone in One Case, He Says -- Four Other Doctors Present.

Source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D14FD395A15738DDDA80994DB405B878CF1D3
What do you guys think

 

[ttomthebomb]

There are a number of explanations:
1. Gases inside released causing pressure to drop, leading to drop in weight.
2. He lied
3. Defecation
4. Scale miscalculation

All perfect examples of 'what ifs'

 

[Dr. Hobo]

Too many factors could've played in on this to even dare trying to say "it's the soul"

 

[NextG]

The experiments carried out by Dr Macdougall were not well designed. When someone's heartbeat is stopped, a drop in body temperature will take place. This leads to a decrease in gas pressure inside. This decrease is accompanied by the loss of air from the body. Unfortunately, Dr Macdougall did not report any data on temperature changes.

On the other hand, one thing that intrigues me is about the existence of the sixth sense. Very often you hear people talking about their experiences with senses of discomfort when their close relatives living far away suddenly fell seriously ill. A plausible explaination could be that the message was carried in the form of electromagnetic waves. The EM travels at the speed of light and hence can reach another person at no time at all. Any suggestions? My two cents.

 

[Fishâ„¢]

I honestly don't believe there is such thing as a soul, maybe there is, our conciousness could exist at a sub-atomic level, who knows. That would be awesome though, but I highly doubt it.

 

[krazedkat]

Could be a gas for all we know, that's why this should be in religion, it has no basis, just anecdote.

 

[Provenance]

I don't believe that the soul has weight, but it's existence can't be known, at the time.
Since we're discussing Science, however, I think it's best to conclude that there is not enough evidence to support even a possibility.

 

[krazedkat]

Not to mention, this claim is untestable. Well, we could test against it and find if there is a gas released etc.

 

[maplman]

The soul exists outside of the physical world, how would you test it?

 

[krazedkat]

What a huge excuse. "We can believe it because you can't prove it wrong "

 

[maplman]

What a huge excuse. "We can believe it because you can't prove it wrong "

0.o whatcha talking about?

 

[krazedkat]

We tell you it can't be proven that a soul exists.
You say "exactly, so I can still believe it, as you can't prove it wrong."

 

[maplman]

Who do you mean by "we" and "you"?

 

[krazedkat]

We, those who believe that you can't truly believe in something that is untestable.
You, those who believe the opposite.

 

[Mattis13]

Well, the way I see it, if souls have a weight, then James Brown must have been the heaviest man in the world *du dun tch* XD

 

[maplman]

We, those who believe that you can't truly believe in something that is untestable.
You, those who believe the opposite.

This is the science section don't bring your little flame festival of religion.

 

[Mattis13]

We, those who believe that you can't truly believe in something that is untestable.
You, those who believe the opposite.

This is the science section don't bring your little flame festival of religion.

Hey now, c'mon, this is an open discussion, lets keep it civil, and it's about the SOUL no less. It mixed science and religion with the first post.

 

[krazedkat]

It shouldn't even be in the science section. You've admitted it can't be tested as it is outside our natural realm -.- (in your opinion).