Some would claim that the "soul" is simply a light show between the ears. Just some chemical reactions resulting in a conscious. Of course that is partially true. But anyone with a brain (no pun intended) also can grasp the reality of the conscious (soul) is a little more than just electricity & chemical mixtures.
In the Septuagint (LXX), ψυχή translates Hebrew נפש nephesh, meaning "life, vital breath" and specifically refers to a mortal, physical life, but is in English variously translated as "soul, self, life,..
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And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living
נֶפֶשׁ nephesh
Genesis 2:7