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Around 300 BC the Greek Philosopher Aristotle coined the phrase “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

For Aristotle this may have been about the immense value of a fast chariot in spite of the lack of monetary value of the small pin holding the wheel onto the axle.  When it comes the the human being, the body, the mind and the soul each have a value, its magnitude depending on how you see life, but it can’t be denied that none of them have any value without the other.

What came first, the Body, the Mind or the Soul?

The body would argue that it came first, from the moment the sperm met the egg and they shook hands, the body was a-for-away.  The soul some argue joins the body somewhere during the construction process, for short periods, and makes the body a permanent home from birth.  The mind of course is a product of making sense of what happens to the body, maybe using the intuition or insight of the soul, and there’s no denying that the mind didn’t exist till the body started to function.

From my perspective though, it’s the opposite.  The soul is eternal, and does not die, but simply operates through different bodies.  So an eternal soul is scheduled for deployment for a physical assignment on earth, a suitable vehicle is chosen for the mission that the soul has signed up for, and as soon as that body has formed sufficiently, the soul starts to visit it and prepare for entry.  At birth, I believe the soul is fully committed to the new body and together they start to create a new mind.

Interesting theories, and what is the relevance of the order of creation for a human?

Well if you believe you are a body, animated by a soul, then the primary function is to enjoy and explore the limits of the body with no real long term positive or negative consequences that extend beyond this life.

If you believe you are an unlimited soul sojourning in a temporary body for the ongoing experience and insight of the  soul, then you may make different choices as to how you use the body, as the consequences not only extend beyond the life of the body, but that is the express reason for the existence of the body and its choices of action.

And of course, the mind is always along for the journey, and makes the lifetime interesting, which may make the mind appear to be the least important.  On the other hand, I would see the mind as the most important, as the mind makes the choices on behalf of both the body and the soul, and a mind that can listen to both the urges of the body and the insight of the soul may make the best choices both for the most rewarding experiences for the body, and for the evolution of the soul.

I wander if Aristotle, who lived at a time when the body was valued and the soul was only alluded to in the newly emerging monotheism, knew more than we think, and if he was referring to the mechanics of a chariot or how to find meaning in life?

Do you live your life as a body animated by a soul, or a soul growing and learning through a limited time in this body?  What does your mind think about that?