Re: Does the soul have a physical meaning in Islam?
yes there are moral centers in the brain, people have experimented with folks who got into accidents and completely changed their personalities. Even alcohol, which damages/numbs parts of the brain and lowers your inhibitions (read capacity to make moral judgements).
it could be the life giving ingredient. I always wondered if scientists/philosophers were able to specifically identify when exactly one becomes "alive". but yes that nebulous idea of life is certainly a more attractive/scientifically plausible meaning of the soul.
I also think the soul as consciousness/sentience makes sense.