Surely by now we’ve outgrown the soul?
Call it the soul, spirit or transcendent human consciousness – the idea that human ‘minds’ exist outside of and separate from the body has been pervasive throughout history. It’s certainly comforting – an assurance that we are special, unique and separate from animals in a clear-cut way. Although traditionally afforded to us by a God, the concepts of ‘soul’ and human exceptionalism that allow this easy view of humanity are carried over virtually unexamined into the more secular principles of humanism.
Unfortunately, science marches on. Although no branch of scientific thought has all the answers, we have known for some time that there is no theoretical need to look outside of the human body for a explanation of the many and varied phenomena that we collectively refer to as ‘consciousness’.