The Nature of the Soul

Immaterial

Immaterial are of two types : Notions & Spirits

Notions are immaterial because they do not exist as physical objects, nor are they reducible to material properties like shape, size, or location. A notion—such as truth, number, or justice—is something we understand, not something we can touch or measure. Even when we apply notions in the physical world (like counting objects or organizing systems), the notion itself remains independent of any particular material instance. It is universal, not tied to any one object, and can be grasped by us in a way that goes beyond sensory experience.

The spirit, in a similar way, is immaterial because it is known through its distinct modes or kinds of operation rather than through any physical form. What we call “spirit” is not a single material thing, but a reality understood through different categories of inner dispositions or orientations that guide human action. These are not physical structures in the body, nor can they be located or measured, but they are real in how they shape choices, intentions, and moral direction. Thus, the spirit is recognized through its structured expressions in human life, pointing to an immaterial order that operates beyond purely material explanation.