Final answer:
The dicotamous viewpoint posits a distinct separation between body and spirit, as opposed to the trichotomy view which adds an additional distinction for the soul, providing a more nuanced understanding of human composition that has been influenced by the likes of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Those accepting the dicotamous viewpoint understand a distinct separation between body and spirit, while those accepting the trichotomy viewpoint understand a threefold distinction of body, soul, and spirit. The dicotomous perspective is closely aligned with dualism, a belief system that posits humans are composed of two separate substances: the material or physical body and the non-material or spiritual soul. This perspective is deep-rooted in many Western traditions, including the Judaeo-Christian-Islam doctrines. On the other hand, trichotomy, although less prevalent, suggests a division into three parts: body, soul, and spirit, offering a more nuanced approach to human composition.
Aristotle's functional conception of the soul has significantly influenced the way the soul is perceived in the West, particularly through the adaptation of his ideas by St. Thomas Aquinas, who reconciled Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine. This interpretation has broadly informed the dualist worldview that separates the material and the spiritual realms, an idea that is entrenched in the common belief systems of Western culture. Materialism, by contrast, refutes the existence of non-physical substances, emphasizing that only matter exists.