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Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Philosophy of mind
This book provides an in-depth analysis of of the logotherapy of
Viktor Frankl and delves into the spiritual depths of an inherent
search for meaning in life. Written by a highly experienced and
competent logotherapist trained by Frankl himself, this book is
excitingly new and unique in that it takes the reader, in the role
of a client accompanied by the author in the role of the therapist,
through the unfolding phase-by-phase process of logotherapy.
Logotherapy is explored as a depth and as a height psychology. From
a provoked will to meaning out of the depths of a spiritual
unconscious, the author takes the search for meaning to the
ultimate heights in the achievement of human greatness. This book
brings Frankl's own profound life's orientation back to life and,
in its reader-friendly style, has the freshness of Frankl's own way
of writing. It is written in a refreshingly simple and
straightforward style for easy accessibility to a wide readership.
It includes cases studies and exercises for readers and is meant
for use in logotherapy courses worldwide. Additionally, it will
appeal to laypersons seeking a deeper meaning to their lives,
psychology students and mental health professionals alike.
Can psychedelic drugs help us tackle the biggest problems we face
globally? Can they heal the cultural, spiritual, and political
wounds we’re wrestling with? Psychedelics have hit the mainstream
as powerful new mental health treatments. But as clinicians explore
what these molecules can do for our individual minds, The Bigger
Picture goes further to illuminate how psychedelics can help us
find new ways to make sense of and come through the crises we face
around the world. Drawing on the latest research, as well as his
unique experience as a participant in a ground-breaking clinical
trial investigating the potent psychedelic DMT, Alexander Beiner
reveals: - the role of psychedelics in addressing global issues
such as global warming, geopolitical instability, and political
polarization - the dark side of the ‘psychedelic renaissance’
and ‘psychedelic capitalism’ - what it takes to elicit huge
personal and cultural transformation through psychedelics Embark on
a journey into The Bigger Picture – a new era of science and
spirituality with the potential to radically transform our
perceptions of ourselves, one another, and our life on this planet.
What do philosophy and computer science have in common? It turns
out, quite a lot! In providing an introduction to computer science
(using Python), Daniel Lim presents in this book key philosophical
issues, ranging from external world skepticism to the existence of
God to the problem of induction. These issues, and others, are
introduced through the use of critical computational concepts,
ranging from image manipulation to recursive programming to
elementary machine learning techniques. In illuminating some of the
overlapping conceptual spaces of computer science and philosophy,
Lim teaches the reader fundamental programming skills and also
allows her to develop the critical thinking skills essential for
examining some of the enduring questions of philosophy. Key
Features Teaches readers actual computer programming, not merely
ideas about computers Includes fun programming projects (like
digital image manipulation and Game of Life simulation), allowing
the reader to develop the ability to write larger computer programs
that require decomposition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking
Uses computational concepts to introduce, clarify, and develop a
variety of philosophical issues Covers various aspects of machine
learning and relates them to philosophical issues involving science
and induction as well as to ethical issues Provides a framework to
critically analyze arguments in classic and contemporary
philosophical debates
This book explores how philosophical realisms relate to
psychoanalytical conceptions of the Real, and in turn how the
Lacanian framework challenges basic philosophical notions of object
and reality. The author examines how contemporary psychoanalysis
might respond to the question of ontology by taking advantage of
the recent revitalization of realism in its speculative form. While
the philosophical side of the debate makes a plea for an
independent ontological consistency of the Real, this book proposes
a Lacanian reassessment of the definition of the Real as 'what is
foreign to subjectivity itself'. In doing so, it reframes the
question of the Real in terms of what is already there beneath the
supposedly linguistic constitution of subjectivity. The book then
goes on to engage the problem of cognition in the realm of Nature
qua materiality, focusing on the centrality of the body as a
linguistic-material hybrid. It argues that it is possible to
re-establish the theoretical dignity of Ricoeur's notion of
'suspicion', by building a dialogue between Lacanian psychoanalysis
and three main domains of inquiry: desire, objects and bodily
enjoyment. Borrowing from Piera Aulagnier's theory of the Other as
a word-bearer, it considers the genesis of desire and sense of
reality both explainable through a hybrid framework which comprises
psychoanalytical insights and material dynamics in a comprehensive
account. This created theoretical space is an opportunity for both
philosophers and psychoanalysts to rethink key Lacanian insights in
light of the problem of the Real.
Examining the Psychological Foundations of Science and Morality is
a progressive text that explores the relationship between
psychology, science and morality, to address fundamental questions
about the foundations of psychological research and its relevance
for the development of these disciplines. Supported by original
empirical evidence, the book analyses the relationship of folk
psychology to rational knowledge, outlining an original theory that
connects psychology and natural sciences through the mind which
creates a psychological foundation for scientific knowledge and
morality. It argues that science and religion have a common
psychological core of subjective experience, which diversifies into
knowledge, beliefs and morality. The book considers how subjective
space and time are converted into physical space and time, and how
subjective 'sense of causation' is shaped into physical causality
and human communication. Further, it explores the mind as a complex
system of contrasting realities, with the main function being
existence attribution (EXON). The chapters delve into a range of
topics including theoretical analysis of consciousness, the
internal self, unexplainable phenomena, analysis of empirical
research into causality, morality and the mind. The book will be of
great interest to postgraduate and upper-level undergraduate
students studying foundations of psychology, consciousness,
philosophy of science, morality, as well as professionals who deal
with influence on mass consciousness or are interested in the link
between human psychology, scientific knowledge and morality.
* Provides a new integrated theory of the study of philosophy that
highlights the importance of understanding biological,
psychological and neuroscientific principles * Highlights
interdisciplinary research and theory in evolution, consciousness
and DNA research and neurolinguistics * Written by an expert in
neuroscience and neurolinguistics
The Intellectual Powers is a philosophical investigation into the
cognitive and cogitative powers of mankind. It develops a
connective analysis of our powers of consciousness, intentionality,
mastery of language, knowledge, belief, certainty, sensation,
perception, memory, thought, and imagination, by one of Britain s
leading philosophers. It is an essential guide and handbook for
philosophers, psychologists, and cognitive neuroscientists. * The
culmination of 45 years of reflection on the philosophy of mind,
epistemology, and the nature of the human person * No other book in
epistemology or philosophy of psychology provides such extensive
overviews of consciousness, self-consciousness, intentionality,
mastery of a language, knowledge, belief, memory, sensation and
perception, thought and imagination * Illustrated with tables,
tree-diagrams, and charts to provide overviews of the conceptual
relationships disclosed by analysis * Written by one of Britain s
best philosophical minds * A sequel to Hacker s Human Nature: The
Categorial Framework * An essential guide and handbook for all who
are working in philosophy of mind, epistemology, psychology,
cognitive science, and cognitive neuroscience
"Soul, Psyche, Brain" is a collection of essays that address the
relationships between neuroscience, religion and human nature. The
book highlights some startling new developments in neuroscience
that have many people rethinking spirituality, the mind-body
connection, and cognition in general. "Soul, Psyche, Brain"
explores questions like: What are the neurological effects of
meditation and prayer? How does the mind develop psychological and
spiritual self-awareness? And what are the practical implications
of brain-mind science for religious faith and moral
reasoning?
This book mainly focuses on the widely distributed nature of
computational tools, models, and methods, ultimately related to the
current importance of computational machines as mediators of
cognition. An entirely new eco-cognitive approach to computation is
offered, to underline the question of the overwhelming cognitive
domestication of ignorant entities, which is persistently at work
in our current societies. Eco-cognitive computationalism does not
aim at furnishing an ultimate and static definition of the concepts
of information, cognition, and computation, instead, it intends, by
respecting their historical and dynamical character, to propose an
intellectual framework that depicts how we can understand their
forms of "emergence" and the modification of their meanings, also
dealing with impressive unconventional non-digital cases. The new
proposed perspective also leads to a clear description of the
divergence between weak and strong levels of creative "abductive"
hypothetical cognition: weak accomplishments are related to "locked
abductive strategies", typical of computational machines, and deep
creativity is instead related to "unlocked abductive strategies",
which characterize human cognizers, who benefit from the so-called
"eco-cognitive openness".
'There may be other professors of geriatric medicine who have
chosen to write down their views on life, the universe and
everything...Raymond Tallis is unusual in that he is
philosophically well educated and alert: his books are genuine
contributions to professional debate and must be assessed as such.'
- Stephen R.L. Clarke, The Times Literary Supplement. Perceptive,
passionate and often controversial, Raymond Tallis's latest
debunking of Kulturkritik delves into a host of ethical and
philosophical issues central to contemporary thought, raising
questions we cannot afford to ignore. After reading Enemies of
Hope, those minded to misrepresent mankind in ways that are almost
routine amongst humanist intellectuals may be inclined to think
twice. By clearing away the 'hysterical humanism' of the present
century Enemies of Hope frees us to start thinking constructively
about the way forward for humanity in the next.
The field of moral development and moral education has witnessed a
relatively huge and differentiated growth in the recent decades
both in the area of empirical research and theory and in the area
of school practice. In this context, key questions about the
importance of "the other" and "interpersonal relationship" in
regard to the development of abilities to realise one's life in a
truly human way arise. In this book, an international team of
researchers examines if and what kind of a relationship with the
other is necessary for morality development and vice versa, what
kind of relationality is required by specific models of morality.
These and other relevant questions are not related only to a
strictly philosophical framework, but there is a significant
pedagogical overlapping.
What happens in our unconscious minds when we listen to, produce or
perform popular music? The Unconscious - a much misunderstood
concept from philosophy and psychology - works through human
subjects as we produce music and can be traced through the music we
engage with. Through a new collaboration between music theorist and
philosopher, Smith and Overy present the long history of the
unconscious and its related concepts, working systematically
through philosophers such as Schopenhauer and Nietzsche,
psychoanalysts such as Freud and Lacan, to theorists such as
Deleuze and Kristeva. The theories offered are vital to follow the
psychological complexity of popular music, demonstrated through
close readings of individual songs, albums, artists, genres, and
popular music practices. Among countless artists, Listening to the
Unconscious draws from Prince to Sufjan Stevens, from Robyn to Xiu
Xiu, from Joanna Newsom to Arcade Fire, from PJ Harvey to LCD Sound
System, each of whom offer exciting inroads into the fascinating
worlds of our unconscious musical minds. And in return, theories of
the unconscious can perhaps takes us deeper into the heart of
popular music.
This book collects original essays by top scholars that address
questions about the nature, origins, and effects of ambivalence.
While the nature of agency has received an enormous amount of
attention, relatively little has been written about ambivalence or
how it relates to topics such as agency, rationality,
justification, knowledge, autonomy, self-governance, well-being,
social cognition, and various other topics. Ambivalence presents
unique questions related to many major philosophical debates. For
example, it relates to debates about virtues, rationality, and
decision-making, agency or authenticity, emotions, and social or
political metacognition. It is also relevant to a variety of larger
debates in philosophy and psychology, including nature vs. nature,
objectivity vs. subjectivity, or nomothetic vs. idiographic. The
essays in this book offer novel and wide-ranging perspectives on
this emerging philosophical topic. They will be of interest to
researchers and advanced students working in ethics, epistemology,
philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and social cognition.
1. Takes the work of Winnicott and at it through a philosophical
lens 2. Using this approach, he opens up an furthers Winnicott's
theories of play, use of an object and otherness 3. Written in an
accessible and engaging style, this book will appeal to both
practicing analysts, analysts in training and students reading
philosophy or looking into psychoanalytic theories.
This book explores the ways in which poetic inspiration came to be
associated with madness in early nineteenth-century Britain. By
examining the works of poets such as Barrett, Browning, Clare,
Tennyson, Townshend, and the Spasmodics in relation to the
burgeoning asylum system and shifting medical discourses of the
period, it investigates the ways in which Britain's post-Romantic
poets understood their own poetic vocations within a cultural
context that insistently linked poetic talent with illness and
insanity. Joseph Crawford examines the popularity of mesmerism
among the writers of the era, as an alternative system of medicine
that provided a more sympathetic account of the nature of poetic
genius, and investigates the persistent tension, found throughout
the literary and medical writings of the period, between the
Romantic ideal of the poet as a transcendent visionary genius and
the 'medico-psychological' conception of poets as mere case studies
in abnormal neurological development.
Who has not found themselves scrolling endlessly on screens and
wondered: Am I living or distracting myself from living? In
Emergency, Break Glass adapts Friedrich Nietzsche's passionate
quest for meaning into a world overwhelmed by "content." Written
long before the advent of smartphones, Nietzsche's aphoristic
philosophy advocated a fierce mastery of attention, a strict
information diet, and a powerful connection to the natural world.
Drawing on Nietzsche's work, technology journalist Nate Anderson
advocates for a life of goal-oriented, creative exertion as more
meaningful than the "frictionless" leisure often promised by our
devices. He rejects the simplicity of contemporary prescriptions
like reducing screen time in favour of looking deeply at what truly
matters to us, then finding ways to make our technological tools
serve this vision. With a light touch suffused by humour, Anderson
uncovers the impact of this "yes-saying" philosophy on his own
life-and perhaps on yours.
To what degree should we rely on our own resources and methods to form opinions about important matters? To what degree should we depend on various authorities, such as a recognized expert or a social tradition? In this novel and provocative account of intellectual trust and authority, Richard Foley argues that it can be reasonable to have intellectual trust in oneself even though it is not possible to provide a defense of the reliability of one's faculties, methods, and opinions that does not beg the question.
This volume covers many diverse topics related in varying degrees
to mathematics in mind including the mathematical and topological
structures of thought and communication. It examines mathematics in
mind from the perspective of the spiral, cyclic and hyperlinked
structures of the human mind in terms of its language, its thoughts
and its various modes of communication in science, philosophy,
literature and the arts including a chapter devoted to the spiral
structure of the thought of Marshall McLuhan. In it, the authors
examine the topological structures of hypertext, hyperlinking, and
hypermedia made possible by the Internet and the hyperlinked
structures that existed before its emergence. It also explores the
cognitive origins of mathematical thinking of the human mind and
its relation to the emergence of spoken language, and studies the
emergence of mathematical notation and its impact on education.
Topics addressed include: * The historical context of any topic
that involves how mathematical thinking emerged, focusing on
archaeological and philological evidence. * Connection between math
cognition and symbolism, annotation and other semiotic processes. *
Interrelationships between mathematical discovery and cultural
processes, including technological systems that guide the thrust of
cognitive and social evolution. * Whether mathematics is an innate
faculty or forged in cultural-historical context * What, if any,
structures are shared between mathematics and language
Whilst accounting for the present-day popularity and relevance of
Alan Watts' contributions to psychology, religion, arts, and
humanities, this interdisciplinary collection grapples with the
ongoing criticisms which surround Watts' life and work. Offering
rich examination of as yet underexplored aspects of Watts'
influence in 1960s counterculture, this volume offers unique
application of Watts' thinking to contemporary issues and
critically engages with controversies surrounding the
commodification of Watts' ideas, his alleged misreading of Biblical
texts, and his apparent distortion of Asian religions and
spirituality. Featuring a broad range of international contributors
and bringing Watts' ideas squarely into the contemporary context,
the text provides a comprehensive, yet nuanced exploration of
Watts' thinking on psychotherapy, Buddhism, language, music, and
sexuality. This text will benefit researchers, doctoral students,
and academics in the fields of psychotherapy, phenomenology, and
the philosophy of psychology more broadly. Those interested in
Jungian psychotherapy, spirituality, and the self and social
identity will also enjoy this volume.
First published in 1935, The Life and Writings of Giambattista Vico
is a succinct biography of the Italian philosopher, Giambattista
Vico. Carefully documented, the book comments on Vico's life as
well as his oeuvre in a bid to extend his audience to the
English-speaking population. From his early childhood to the
influence of his writings after his death, the book provides a keen
insight into the many facets of his philosophy. This book will be
of interest to students of philosophy and history.
This book enables the reader to trace developments in the
philosophy and history of psychology. It provides a broad treatment
of the main conceptual issues in psychology, explaining what the
problems are, outlining the main approaches taken to them, and
indicating their relative merits and demerits.
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