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The Idea of the Soul in Western Philosophy and Science

Abstract

THIS is a book of unusual interest. Many writers have discussed the influence which the investigations and theories of natural science have had on our notions of ’mind’, ’soul’ or ’spirit’, but Dr. Ellis has had the brilliant idea of treating the question the other way round; of tracing historically the influence that the notion of the soul has had on the development of science. He has no difficulty in showing that the influence has been decisive at certain critical stages and has left indelible marks on the thought and language of western Europe.

The Idea of the Soul in Western Philosophy and Science

By Dr. William Ellis. Pp. 314. (London: George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1940.) 12s. 6d. net.

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RITCHIE, A. The Idea of the Soul in Western Philosophy and Science. Nature 146, 531–532 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/146531a0

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