Full Idea
We borrowed the concept of unity from our 'ego' concept - our oldest article of faith. If we did not hold ourselves to be unified, we would never have formed the concept 'thing'. Now, somewhat late, we are convinced that the ego does not guarantee unity.
Gist of Idea
We saw unity in things because our ego seemed unified (but now we doubt the ego!)
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §635)
Book Reference
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.338
A Reaction
Nietzsche tells a similar story about the emergence and subsequent undermining of truth. I am becoming an enthusiast for Nietzsche's account of how our psychology has generated out metaphysics - which doesn't make the metaphysics false.
Related Idea
Idea 20357 Truth was given value by morality, but eventually turned against its own source [Nietzsche]