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Books > Philosophy > General
Modern life encourages us to pursue the perfect identity. Whether we
aspire to become the best lawyer or charity worker, life partner or
celebrity influencer, we emulate exemplars that exist in the world –
hoping it will bring us happiness. But this often leads to a complex
game of envy and pride. We achieve these identities but want others to
imitate us. We disagree with those whose identities contradict ours –
leading to polarisation and even violence. And yet when they thump
against us, we are ashamed to ring hollow.
In Against Identity, philosopher Alexander Douglas seeks an alternative
wisdom. Searching the work of three thinkers – ancient Chinese
philosopher Zhuangzi, Dutch Enlightenment thinker Benedict de Spinoza,
and 20th Century French theorist René Girard – he explores how identity
can be a spiritual violence that leads us away from truth.
Through their worlds and radically different cultures, we discover how,
at moments of historical rupture, our hunger for being grows: and yet,
it is exactly these times when we should make peace with our
indeterminacy and discover the freedom of escaping our selves.
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Upon the Arrival of Dawn
(Hardcover)
Joseph A Schiller; Edited by Nick J Stead; Cover design or artwork by Morgan Giuge
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R752
R661
Discovery Miles 6 610
Save R91 (12%)
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Imperfectualism
(Hardcover)
Lorin Morgan-Richards; Illustrated by Lorin Morgan-Richards
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R861
Discovery Miles 8 610
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Ships in 18 - 22 working days
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