Man: Animal, Computer, Angel
How are we alike?
| Topic | Human | Animal | Computer | Angel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | spirit, soul, body | soul, body | matter | spirit |
| Physical organic? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Can obey God? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Can obey humans? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Can be thanked? | Yes | Rewarded | No | Yes |
| Can question? | Yes | Primitive | No | Yes |
| Question programming? | Yes | Only last one | No | Yes |
| Active/receptive | Both | Both | Receptive | Both |
| Awareness of time | Past, present, future | Present | None | "Aevernity" —"angel time" vs mankind time |
| Abstract across time | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can relate cause/effect | Yes | Not abstract | Abstr. only | Yes |
| Moved by final cause? | Yes | No (immed. only) | No (immed. only) | Yes |
| Whole or parts? | Spirit whole; Soul may be whole Body may be whole |
Soul whole; Body may be whole |
Parts only | Spirit whole they are undivided ("pure") |
| Can calculate | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced calculation? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced natural power? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Advanced natural beauty? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Emotion/passion | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| First act of the mind? (Understanding, concepts) |
Yes | Not abstract | No | Yes |
| Second act of the mind? (Judging -- relating concepts) |
Yes | Not abstract | Symb. logic only | Yes |
| Third act of the mind? (Arguments -- relating judgments) |
Yes | No | Symb. logic only | Yes |
| Conscious? | Self-conscious | Conscious | Not conscious | Self-conscious |
| Can seek? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Moral free will? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Non-moral free will? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Can self-terminate | Yes | non-moral only | No | No |
| Ends, meaning, purpose, ultimate goal? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Use language? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Invent language? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Can give reasons for belief? | Yes | No | Only reasons for reasons (not belief) | Yes |
| Can do analogies? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Ambiguity, irony, humor | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Can dream? | Yes | Yes | No | No (body req'd) |
| Create art? | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Can worship | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Will judge animals, computers, angels? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Can be possessed by evil? | Yes | Yes | No | No (only self-possesion) |
| God can inhabit? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Created in God's image? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Can be in God's family? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Can make a promise? | Yes | No | No | NA (no time) |
| Mate? | Can pro-create spirits | Can co-create souls | No | No |
| Can unite with God? | Yes | No | No | No |