The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain from Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs

Science has dispelled many beliefs and ideas over the years, so many, in fact, that some people have declared that science has gone to war with religion by debunking supernatural and preconceived notions. I disagree with that — it’s religion that has started many wars, not science — but nonetheless, science has called many things into question over the centuries.

In The Soul Fallacy, scientist Julien Musolino explores the science — or lack thereof — behind the soul, challenging centuries upon centuries of belief and offering a reasoned, methodical argument for disregarding the notion of a soul. Along the way, he explains the often-nebulous concept of “the mind” and dismantles arguments new and old that defend the soul.

Musolino is also careful to explain that we’re not losing something by abandoning this belief; we’re gaining a better understanding of life and cultural awareness in its absence. The Soul Fallacy seeks to be a uniting text, not a divisive one, although I fear that’s a very optimistic standpoint.

As an agnostic myself, I found some of Musolino’s arguments quite convincing. Hopefully, this book will spark plenty of discussion for others as well.