“Overcoming magic often takes the form of theology. From animals and ancestors the path leads to all kinds of spirits. The hypothesis (which already appeared in the magical age) of the little man alongside man, the “soul', and of the special being, 'God', more and more often seeks a parallel process 'behind' processes. Whereas in the magical age, empirically given facts were linked with each other on the basis of primitive theories without the introduction of uncontrollable elements, now their introduction becomes essential.”

— Otto Neurath

Source: 1930s, "Empirical Sociology" (1931), p. 322

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Otto Neurath 23

austrian economist, philosopher and sociologist 1882–1945

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