Beyond Good and Evil · Chapter
Beyond Atomism: The Soul as Multiplicity explained
The chapter critiques materialistic atomism as a refuted theory, crediting Boscovich and Copernicus for overcoming sensory evidence.
What happens
The chapter critiques materialistic atomism as a refuted theory, crediting Boscovich and Copernicus for overcoming sensory evidence. It extends this critique to metaphysical and Christian 'soul-atomism,' arguing for a new psychology that views the soul as mortal, multiple, and a social structure of instincts, opening the door for new discoveries.
Themes in this chapter
Psychology as the Fundamental Science
The chapter outlines the task of the 'new psychologist' to dismantle superstitions about the soul and invent new conceptions like 'mortal soul' and 'soul as social structure of the instincts and passions.'
Critique of Traditional Philosophy
Declares war on lingering 'atomistic requirements' and 'metaphysical requirements,' explicitly targeting the Christian-derived soul-atomism as a dogma to be expelled from science.
Characters to notice
- Roger Boscovich
Credited, alongside Copernicus, for delivering the greatest triumph over the senses by teaching us to abjure belief in substance and the particle-atom.
- Nicolaus Copernicus
Praised as a great opponent of ocular evidence who persuaded us the earth does not stand fast, paralleling Boscovich's attack on matter.
- Christianity
Identified as the teacher of the most portentous atomism: soul-atomism, the belief in an indestructible, eternal, indivisible soul, which must be expelled from science.
Key passages
“it is the greatest triumph over the senses that has hitherto been gained on earth.”
Overcoming the belief in solid matter and atoms represents a monumental victory against relying on sensory appearance.
Highlights the philosophical significance of Boscovich's work.
“one must also above all give the finishing stroke to that other and more portentous atomism which Christianity has taught best and longest, the soul-atomism.”
The most crucial task is to decisively end the even more dangerous atomistic belief in a simple, eternal soul, which Christianity has propagated.
Marks the primary target of the chapter's critique.
“such conceptions as 'mortal soul,' and 'soul of subjective multiplicity,' and 'soul as social structure of the instincts and passions,' want henceforth to have legitimate rights in science.”
New, dynamic models of the soul—as something that dies, is multiple, and is built from drives—must now be accepted as valid scientific concepts.
Positively outlines the new direction for psychology.