Synopses & Reviews
In this trailblazing collection of essays on free will and the human mind, distinguished philosopher Owen Flanagan seeks to reconcile a scientific view of ourselves with an account of ourselves as meaning makers and agents of free will. He approaches this old philosophical quagmire from new angles, bringing to it the latest insights of neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychiatry. Covering a host of topics, these essays discuss whether the conscious mind can be explained scientifically, whether dreams are self-expressive or just noise, the moral socialization of children, and the nature of psychological phenomena. Ultimately, Flanagan concludes that a naturalistic view of the self need not lead to nihilism, but rather to a liberating vision of personal identity which makes sense of agency, character transformation, and the value and worth of human life.
Review
"Marked by many sparkling insights."--The Modern Schoolman
"Owen Flanagan is as wise in matters of the Heart and Spirit as he is distinguished in matters of modern science and philosophical theory. These extraordinary essays set a new standard in the exploration of timeless human concerns--the nature and nurture of the self, the grounds of self worth and collective meaning--partly because Flanagan addresses them as they are illuminated by the nascent sciences of the mind-brain. This volume is a doorway into the moral reasoning of the 21st century. Most importantly, it brings hope, not despair. Enter, and join the new dialogue."--Paul M. Churchland, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego
"If God is Dead, what are we (our Selves) to do? In the Fear-and-Trembling tradition of Soren Kierkegaard, Owen Flanagan boldly expresses his Self!"--J. Allan Hobson, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Any person who has a naturalistic view of human beings must face the fundamental question of how morality and meaning are possible in human life. Flanagan artfully weaves together work from the cognitive sciences, recent philosophical accounts of persons and value, and his own deep insights into what it means to live a human life. He constructs a scientifically and psychologically realistic account of personal identity that makes sense of human morality and the human quest for a life that has meaning and purpose."--Mark Johnson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oregon
Review
"Marked by many sparkling insights."--The Modern Schoolman
"Owen Flanagan is as wise in matters of the Heart and Spirit as he is distinguished in matters of modern science and philosophical theory. These extraordinary essays set a new standard in the exploration of timeless human concerns--the nature and nurture of the self, the grounds of self worth and collective meaning--partly because Flanagan addresses them as they are illuminated by the nascent sciences of the mind-brain. This volume is a doorway into the moral reasoning of the 21st century. Most importantly, it brings hope, not despair. Enter, and join the new dialogue."--Paul M. Churchland, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego
"If God is Dead, what are we (our Selves) to do? In the Fear-and-Trembling tradition of Soren Kierkegaard, Owen Flanagan boldly expresses his Self!"--J. Allan Hobson, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Any person who has a naturalistic view of human beings must face the fundamental question of how morality and meaning are possible in human life. Flanagan artfully weaves together work from the cognitive sciences, recent philosophical accounts of persons and value, and his own deep insights into what it means to live a human life. He constructs a scientifically and psychologically realistic account of personal identity that makes sense of human morality and the human quest for a life that has meaning and purpose."--Mark Johnson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oregon
Synopsis
"Marked by many sparkling insights." -- The Modern Schoolman. In this trailblazing collection, Flanagan pursues essential philosophical questions from new angles, bringing in the latest insights of neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychiatry. He explores questions such as whether the conscious mind can be explained scientifically, whether dreams are self-expressive or just noise, and the nature of psychological phenomena such as multiple personality disorder and false memory syndrome.
Synopsis
What makes the life of any animal, even one as sophisticated as Homo sapiens, worth anything? What place in a material world is there for God? And if there is no place for a God, then what hold can morality possibly have on us? Why isn't everything allowed? In this trailblazing collection of essays on free will and the human mind, distinguished philosopher Owen Flanagan tackles these questions and more. He pursues the old philosophical project of reconciling a scientific view of ourselves with a view of ourselves as agents of free will and meaning-makers. But he approaches this project from new angles, bringing in the latest insights of neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychiatry. Flanagan covers a host of topics of concern to every thoughtful person living in today's world. These discussions include whether the conscious mind can be explained scientifically, whether dreams are self-expressive or just noise, the moral socialization of children, and the nature of psychological phenomena such as multiple personality disorder and false memory syndrome. What emerges from these explorations is a liberating vision which can make sense of the self, agency, character transformation, and the value and worth of human life. Flanagan concludes that nothing about a scientific view of people must lead to nihilism.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: What Makes Life Worth Living?
2. Is a Science of the Conscious Mind Possible?
3. Self-Expression in Sleep: Neuroscience and Dreams
4. Neuroscience, Agency, and the Meaning of Life
5. Multiple Identity, Character Transformation, and Self-Reclamation
6. I Remember You
7. Children, Other Minds, and Honesty
8. Ethics Naturalized: Ethics as Human Ecology
9. Identity and Reflection
10. Virtue and Ignorance
11. Admirable Immorality and Admirable Imperfection
12. Self-Confidence
13. Epilogue: Save the Last Dance for Me
Index