Madam, - I write in response to Dr Stephen Costello's letter of May 30th in which he takes issue with Prof Singer and his article on animal welfare.
At one point, Mr Costello soberly reminds us that "evolutionary theory has not even been proved" and therefore Singer is wrong or overly confident in "assuming" humans, animals, etc. are evolved species; for, quite simply, there is no proof.
At another, earlier, point, Mr Costello "assumes" that we have a spiritual soul, which animals don't have. Am I to take it, given the importance he accords to proof over theory, that he must have proof of this supernatural existence? I would urge Mr Costello to publish such a "proof" which I await with eagerness.
I can only hope that a fluffy vegetarian with a moustache like me who fell for all that evolutionary nonsense can understand it. - Yours, etc.,
OLIVER FEENEY, Grattan Park, Salthill, Galway.
Madam, - I am delighted to respond to my two critics, Mr Aidan Devon and Mr Colin Brennan (June 5th).
Mr Devon seems to think I have engaged in a "cheap" insult on Prof. Singer. What's so cheap about criticising someone with whom one does not agree? He goes on to say that I accept "necessary cruelty to animals"'. I explicitly stated in my letter that "I would never encourage unnecessary cruelty towards them \". So get it right Mr. Devon.
As to not being at the "'cutting edge of conscious evolution philosophy", may I ask: what on God's earth is that? It sounds to me like some New-Age pantheistic mumbo-jumbo. Mr Devon is certainly in good company with Prof. Singer on that score.
As to having "scary certainty" about us possessing spiritual souls and if I can "prove" it as Mr Brennan demands, I have this to say: what is so scary about being right? And as regards to proof, there is a difference between physical (scientific) proof and metaphysical (spiritual) proof. Can Mr Brennan prove Darwinism to be correct? I don't think so.
The soul is an immaterial entity that has three functions: will, memory and understanding. It is best comprehended at the metaphysical level and is the logical consequence and conclusion from the existence of God and the order of creation, topics that space precludes me from philosophising on.
I would, therefore, exhort these two gentlemen to clarify their muddled "philosophical" positions.
They could do this by starting to read Aristotle, Aquinas, the Bible and the teachings of the Magisterium on the soul. The soul (anima) is the form of the body and humans "have" a spiritual soul, which is immortal. This is a promise held out to us by the One as he hung on a cross. - Yours, etc.
Dr. STEPHEN J. COSTELLO, Dartmouth Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.