---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To us investigators, the concept 'soul'…"
description: "\"“To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter.”\" — Ernst Mach"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png"
---

#  To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and…

![“To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter.” quote by Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png)

> ““To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter.””

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Mach dismisses the soul as a non‑empirical notion, unfit for scientific inquiry, and treats it as a subject of ridicule.

**In simple terms:** Soul is irrelevant to science.

Key Takeaway

Focus on observable phenomena.

Themes

science skepticism materialism

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- research
- academic debate
- teaching physics
- public science communication

Key Concepts

empiricism philosophy of mind

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect serious debate?
- Can science ever study consciousness?

A Different Perspective

Scientific methods cannot address metaphysical claims directly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Investigators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigators/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/)

## Related quotes

> [To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter. But matter is an abstraction of exactly the same kind, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is-irrelevant-and-a-matter-for-2/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [The work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-work-of-science-has-nothing-whatever-to-do-with-consensus/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

> [The main purpose of a significance test is to inhibit the natural enthusiasm of the investigator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-mosteller/the-main-purpose-of-a-significance-test-is-to-inhibit-the-natural/)

[Frederick Mosteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-mosteller/)

> [In the early days of my child labor activities I was an investigator with a camera attachment... but the emphasis became reversed until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hine/in-the-early-days-of-my-child-labor-activities-i-was-an-investigator/)

[Lewis Hine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hine/)

> [The fact that knowledge endlessly recedes as the investigator is about to grasp it is what constitutes at the same time his torment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/the-fact-that-knowledge-endlessly-recedes-as-the-investigator-is/)

[Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/)

> [We must remain, in a word, in an intellectual disposition which seems paradoxical, but which, in my opinion, represents the true mind of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/we-must-remain-in-a-word-in-an-intellectual-disposition-which-seems/)

[Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/)

> [As a vital link in the conversion process, we should bear our testimonies that the gospel is true; our testimonies may well be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/as-a-vital-link-in-the-conversion-process-we-should-bear-our/)

[Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/)

> [Theism tells men that they are the slaves of a God. Atheism assures men that they are the investigators and users of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/theism-tells-men-that-they-are-the-slaves-of-a-god-atheism-assures/)

[E. Haldeman-Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-haldeman-julius/)

> [Science even more than the Gospel teaches us humility. She cannot look down on anything, she does not know what superiority means, she despises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/science-even-more-than-the-gospel-teaches-us-humility-she-cannot-look/)

[Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/)

> [The history of science knows scores of instances where an investigator was in the possession of all the important facts for a new theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mayr/the-history-of-science-knows-scores-of-instances-where-an/)

[Ernst Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mayr/)

> [If I had multiple lives, I'd like to do many things, including being a homicide investigator. I'm not brave enough to chase people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veena-sud/if-i-had-multiple-lives-i-d-like-to-do-many-things-including-being-a/)

[Veena Sud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veena-sud/)

> [Do experimental work but keep in mind that other investigators in the same field will consider your discoveries as less than one fourth as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manning-child/do-experimental-work-but-keep-in-mind-that-other-investigators-in-the/)

Charles Manning Child

> [Not many appreciate the ultimate power and potential usefulness of basic knowledge accumulated by obscure, unseen investigators who, in a lifetime of intensive study,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenie-clark/not-many-appreciate-the-ultimate-power-and-potential-usefulness-of/)

Eugenie Clark

> [I am myself by inclination an investigator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/i-am-myself-by-inclination-an-investigator/)

[Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/)

> [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/)

[Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/)

## More by Ernst Mach

> [Physics is experience, arranged in economical order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/physics-is-experience-arranged-in-economical-order/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Science itself, therefore, may be regarded as a minimal problem, consisting of the completest possible presentment of facts with the least possible expenditure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/science-itself-therefore-may-be-regarded-as-a-minimal-problem/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [In reality, the law always contains less than the fact itself, because it does not reproduce the fact as a whole but only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/in-reality-the-law-always-contains-less-than-the-fact-itself-because/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [The presentations and conceptions of the average man of the world are formed and dominated, not by the full and pure desire for knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/the-presentations-and-conceptions-of-the-average-man-of-the-world-are/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Scientists must use the simplest means of arriving at their results and exclude everything not perceived by the senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/scientists-must-use-the-simplest-means-of-arriving-at-their-results/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Personally, people know themselves very poorly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/personally-people-know-themselves-very-poorly/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [“But we must not forget that all things in the world are connected with one another and depend on one another, and that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/but-we-must-not-forget-that-all-things-in-the-world-are-connected/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [If our dreams were more regular, more connected, more stable, they would also have more practical importance for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/if-our-dreams-were-more-regular-more-connected-more-stable-they-would/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Mathematics may be defined as the economy of counting. There is no problem in the whole of mathematics which cannot be solved by direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/mathematics-may-be-defined-as-the-economy-of-counting-there-is-no/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Strange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests on its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/strange-as-it-may-sound-the-power-of-mathematics-rests-on-its-evasion/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [The acquisition of the most elementary truth does not devolve upon the individual alone: it is pre-effected in the development of the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/the-acquisition-of-the-most-elementary-truth-does-not-devolve-upon/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [The history of the development of mechanics is quite indispensable to a full comprehension of the science in its present condition. It also affords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/the-history-of-the-development-of-mechanics-is-quite-indispensable-to/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [The task which we have set ourselves is simply to show why and for what purpose we hold that standpoint during most of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/the-task-which-we-have-set-ourselves-is-simply-to-show-why-and-for/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [All this, the positive and physical essence of mechanics, which makes its chief and highest interest for a student of nature, is in existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/all-this-the-positive-and-physical-essence-of-mechanics-which-makes/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

> [Science is the most complete presentment of facts with the least expenditure of thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/science-is-the-most-complete-presentment-of-facts-with-the-least/)

[Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

[Explore all 44 Ernst Mach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/)

## More Comedy quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/)

[Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/)

> [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/)

[Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/)

[Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/)

> [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/)

[Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/)

[Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

[Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernst Mach"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is-irrelevant-and-a-matter-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is-irrelevant-and-a-matter-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ernst-mach-15026_comedy_to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is_420458.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To us investigators, the concept 'soul' is irrelevant and a matter for laughter.” — Ernst Mach",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ernst Mach",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“To us investigators, the concept 'soul'...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is-irrelevant-and-a-matter-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/to-us-investigators-the-concept-soul-is-irrelevant-and-a-matter-for/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
