Anima

Concept of soul or spirit in various cultures and philosophies

For other uses, see Anima (disambiguation).

Anima is a term that refers to the concept of the soul or spirit in various cultures and philosophies. The term is derived from the Latin word for "soul" or "life force." It is a central idea in many religions, philosophical systems, and psychological theories.

In Religion

In Christianity, the anima is often equated with the soul, which is believed to be the immortal essence of a person. The concept of the soul is also significant in other Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism and Islam. In Hinduism, the concept of the soul is referred to as Atman, which is considered the true self of an individual. Similarly, in Buddhism, the idea of the soul is more complex and is often discussed in terms of Anatta, or the doctrine of "non-self."

In Philosophy

The concept of anima has been explored by various philosophers throughout history. In Ancient Greece, Plato and Aristotle both discussed the nature of the soul. Plato believed in the immortality of the soul and its pre-existence before birth, while Aristotle viewed the soul as the form of a living being, inseparable from the body. In Renaissance philosophy, the anima was often discussed in the context of alchemy and mysticism. Paracelsus, a Swiss physician and alchemist, wrote extensively about the anima mundi, or the "world soul," which he believed permeated all of nature.

In Psychology

The term anima is also significant in the field of psychology, particularly in the work of Carl Jung. Jung used the term to describe the unconscious feminine side of a man, which he believed was a crucial part of the collective unconscious. The anima, along with its counterpart, the animus, represents the inner gender opposite and plays a key role in Jungian analytical psychology.

Related Concepts

• Soul
• Spirit
• Atman (Hinduism)
• Anatta
• Collective unconscious
• Animus

See Also

• Psyche (psychology)
• Self (Jung)
• Ego
• Superego
• Id, ego and super-ego