There is nothing more deplorable than those skeptics and reformers, liberal priests and humanistically-oriented scholars, who moan about "soullessness,” "barren materialism,” what is "unsatisfying in mere science,” and the "cold play of atoms,” and renounce intellectual precision, which is for them only a slight temptation. Then, with the help of some alleged "emotional knowledge” to satisfy the feelings, and with the "necessary” harmony and rounding-out of the world picture, all they invent is some universal spirit: a world-soul, or a God, who is nothing more than the world of the academic petite bourgeoisie which gives rise to him; at best, an oversoul who reads the newspaper and demonstrates a certain appreciation of social questions. (Robert Musil)

There is nothing more deplorable than those skeptics and reformers, liberal priests and humanistically-oriented scholars, who moan about "soullessness,” "barren materialism,” what is "unsatisfying in mere science,” and the "cold play of atoms,” and renounce intellectual precision, which is for them only a slight temptation. Then, with the help of some alleged "emotional knowledge” to satisfy the feelings, and with the "necessary” harmony and rounding-out of the world picture, all they invent is some universal spirit: a world-soul, or a God, who is nothing more than the world of the academic petite bourgeoisie which gives rise to him; at best, an oversoul who reads the newspaper and demonstrates a certain appreciation of social questions.

Robert Musil

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academic appreciation barren best bourgeoisie certain cold deplorable emotional gives harmony help intellectual knowledge liberal materialism mere moan necessary newspaper nothing oversoul picture play precision renounce rise science slight social spirit temptation universal world petite questions soullessness world-soul feelings

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