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The series is published by Acumen
and edited by Mark Vernon. Here is Mark's introduction...
From Plato to Bertrand Russell
philosophers have engaged wide audiences on matters of life
and death. The Art of Living series aims to open up
philosophy's riches to a wider public once again. Taking its
lead from the concerns of the ancient Greek philosophers,
the series asks the question "How should we live?". Authors
draw on their own personal reflections to write philosophy
that seeks to enrich, stimulate and challenge the reader's
thought about their own life. In a world where people are
searching for new insights and sources of meaning, The
Art of Living showcases the value of philosophy and
reveals it as a great untapped resource for our age
From the Me press
release...
Who are we? What is consciousness and how does it relate to
what goes on in the brain? What is it to be a unique individual?
These are some of the most hotly debated questions in
philosophy today and they have a direct bearing upon the way we
understand ourselves. Looking at the subject from a
refreshingly new angle, Mel Thompson argues that while
traditional questions about how the mind relates to the body go
some way to explaining who we are, ultimately they fail to
reveal the heart of the matter – the self that we experience.
In a world where events are constantly re-shaping our lives, is
it possible to have a fixed idea of “me”? Can we ever really
know our friends and family and, likewise, can they truly know
us? If we want to know another person, which is more useful, a
biography or a brainscan? These are just some of the questions
that are examined in this fascinating and thought-provoking
book.
Drawing on personal reflection and anecdote and on writings from
philosophy, science, religion and literature, Thompson explores
the idea that the self is not a fixed entity, but a process by
which our senses and memory work together to create a unique and
personal map of the world around us – a map that enables us to
feel ‘at home’, to relate to others, and to give value and
meaning to our lives.
Guiding the reader through one of life’s most challenging
questions in a way that is both logical and accessible, Me
is a well-written and uplifting book that, while acknowledging
that we cannot give a definitive answer the question “Who am
I?”, argues that the process that develops the illusion of a
separate ‘me’ ‘not only gives character to characterless
neurons and sense organs, but also transforms the external world
of physical matter into one that is mapped out with value,
beauty, friendship, meaning and significance.’
Other books in the series include...
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