DE Weekly: Mortality, Psyche, & Kierkegaard At a Graveside

The English word “psyche” comes from the Greek psyche (𝜓𝜐 𝜒𝜂′), meaning soul, self, life, mind, or inner being. It derives from the word psucho (𝜓𝜐 𝜒𝜔), meaning “breath” or “to breathe.” This is because the psyche, that is, the soul, is the animating energy behind the self in each person.

In the modern day, I wish we would treat the words “psyche” and “soul” in the English language as interchangeable. They should be, in fact; after all, when one feels one’s soul is lacking in something they seek a psychologist.