Final answer:
In Aristotelian philosophy, a new type of soul is understood as a new form that it imparts to the living body, explaining its functioning and capabilities. This philosophical approach has been integrated into some Christian thought by figures such as St. Thomas Aquinas. Other perspectives include dualism, which separates the soul and body, and materialism, which denies the existence of the soul.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "A new type of soul is known by:" touches on philosophical concepts regarding the nature and identification of the soul in various philosophical and religious contexts. In Aristotle's philosophy, for instance, the soul is not introduced to a new body or a new composite, nor is it the manifestation of a new power. Instead, Aristotle defines the soul functionally, based on what the soul does, which is the first principle of life—the animating force in living beings. For plants, he postulates a vegetative soul that governs growth and nutrient exchange; for animals, an animal soul that includes the powers of the vegetative soul alongside perception and movement; and for humans, he adds the rational soul, capable of reason and thought.
In some Christian philosophical thought, heavily influenced by Aristotle through the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, the soul is also understood within this functional framework but modified to align with a Christian interpretation. This view holds that the soul and body form a composite, where the soul is the form of the body and gives life to it. Thus, according to Aristotelian-Thomas philosophy, a new type of soul is known by a new form it gives to the living body.
Dualism, in contrast, poses a separation between the body (matter) and the soul (spirit), suggesting that they are two distinct substances. Materialism denies the existence of non-physical substances like the soul, arguing that only matter exists. In the broader dialogue about the soul, these views contribute to the ongoing discourse on how the soul is identified and understood within the context of human existence and what constitutes a new type of soul.