An important question for Greek philosophers was whether the "soul" can exist independently of the "body". Aristotle is saying that we do not need to ask about the relationship between the soul and the body because it is obvious to him that the two are part of the same whole. We must no more ask = We don't need to ask whether = if the soul and body are one = they are part of the same whole than ask whether = just as we don't need to ask if the wax = the wax and the figure = the form impressed on it = when you make a wax impression you press an object into the wax and the wax takes the form (figure) of the object. For example if you make a wax impression of a key by pressing it into wax, the wax takes the form (figure) of the key. are one = are part of the same whole. The figure impressed on the wax and the wax are one. The soul is like is like the wax and the figure impressed upon it is similar to the body. Although we can distinguish the soul and body from each other in our thoughts, they are in fact not two different things. For Aristotle the soul is not a material object, but it is not separable from the body. Aristotle believed that the "soul" was the cause and principle of the "body". I agree with Aristotle. Thanks for the correction Erik. I transposed the order. However, the soul cannot exist without the body and the body cannot exist without the soul. You cannot separate them into wax and figure components . They are part of a whole. Денис

if you want to understand more try to watched "Final Fantasy" cowboy..

While we are "waxing philosophical" ... (ha ha) ... It is interesting to note that the WAX is the soul, not the body. Parallel form is very important here: "soul ... body / wax ... figure". And, as in life, several things are apparent: 1. The wax existed before the figure impressed upon it. Thus, the soul does not exist for the body, but the body for the soul. 2. The wax will outlast the impression. Time, heat or human marring will eventually remove the impression from the wax. Likewise, the body will not always exist. But the soul will exist after the body is no longer "impressed". 3. There is a maker of both the wax and one to make the impression upon it. Impressions are MADE into wax, as wax is made. Neither exists of its own doing. While no analogy describes a thing in every point, it does imply the existence of an overarching "higher power" - a Creator of body and soul. These are the types of things that might typically be discussed in a philosophy class or debate. And, since philosophy is essentially "thinking about thinking" ... there will be no empirical answer. (In case anyone doesn't know the use of the word, in my joke about "waxing philosophical", "to wax" means "to become, more and more; to swell".)

Aristotle saw the soul as a life-giving force that animated the body to fulfill its potential. Soul was the directing force and actuality of any living organism and was related to the definitions of growth and reaching one’s full potential. Without it, the body or any living organism would not be actualized and as a result, be “dead,” nothing but mere lifeless matter. For more information you can visit this website; http://western-philosophy.suite101.com/article.cfm/aristotles_definition_and_levels_of_soul#ixzz0LDWhZlSC&C