QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: Do you think it matters whether the soul is immortal when we are thinking about how to live a good human life? Why or why not? Try to provide thoughtful reasons that you think anyone might find persuasive and not just someone from a particular type of background.
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Whether the soul is immortal or not should have little relevance in whether people live a good human life. With the concept of an immortal soul people give themselves an excuse to do good, typically to avoid some sort of punishment or to give themselves a better lot in either their next life or in the afterlife. This seems to negate the idea of doing good simply to do good. Why be cruel when you can be kind? Why horde when you can share? Why hate when you can love? Why bring the focus to yourself when you can be and do good for the sake of others? "I am good because God/the Gods/Goddesses tell me to." Do you really need that motivation? Is not the happiness you give other people motivation enough? With concern over their immortal self, people do good out of fear of punishment or retribution. Fear is no reason to do good. Good should be done solely for its own benefit. If the soul should be mortal and tied solely to this body, after which it would cease to exist does that mean we shouldn't do good? Ignoring the argument about what constitutes "good" one could soundly argue that we should still strive to do good. If the soul is in fact immortal, is it likely to be something that is greatly affected by the physical mortal life?