The Brain and the Meaning of Life
- ISBN-10
- 0691142726
- ISBN-13
- 9780691142722
- Category
- Philosophy
- Pages
- 274
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2010-02-14
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press
- Author
- Paul Thagard
Description
Why is life worth living? What makes actions right or wrong? What is reality and how do we know it? The Brain and the Meaning of Life draws on research in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to answer some of the most pressing questions about life's nature and value. Paul Thagard argues that evidence requires the abandonment of many traditional ideas about the soul, free will, and immortality, and shows how brain science matters for fundamental issues about reality, morality, and the meaning of life. The ongoing Brain Revolution reveals how love, work, and play provide good reasons for living. Defending the superiority of evidence-based reasoning over religious faith and philosophical thought experiments, Thagard argues that minds are brains and that reality is what science can discover. Brains come to know reality through a combination of perception and reasoning. Just as important, our brains evaluate aspects of reality through emotions that can produce both good and bad decisions. Our cognitive and emotional abilities allow us to understand reality, decide effectively, act morally, and pursue the vital needs of love, work, and play. Wisdom consists of knowing what matters, why it matters, and how to achieve it. The Brain and the Meaning of Life shows how brain science helps to answer questions about the nature of mind and reality, while alleviating anxiety about the difficulty of life in a vast universe. The book integrates decades of multidisciplinary research, but its clear explanations and humor make it accessible to the general reader.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live--and how You...
By Richard J. DavidsonHow Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live--and how You Can Change Them Richard J. Davidson, ... Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., ...
-
The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life
By Kevin Simler, Robin HansonShanks, David R., Miguel A. Vadillo, Benjamin Riedel, and Lara M. C. Puhlmann. 2015. ... In The Changing Hospital Industry: Comparing For- Profit and Not- for- Profit Institutions, edited by David Cutler. Chicago: University of Chicago ...
-
The Feeling of Life Itself: Why Consciousness Is Widespread but Can't Be Computed
By Christof KochA thought-provoking argument that consciousness—more widespread than previously assumed—is the feeling of being alive, not a type of computation or a clever hack In The Feeling of Life Itself, Christof Koch offers a straightforward ...
-
Discovering the Brain
By Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Sandra AckermanThis highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."
-
Brain & Belief: An Exploration of the Human Soul
By John J. McGrawThe ambitious scope of the book is balanced by a deeply personal voice whose sympathy for both science and religion is resonant.
-
Meaning in Life and Why It Matters
By Susan WolfAccording to Susan Wolf, however, much of what motivates us does not comfortably fit into this scheme. Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world.
-
The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life
By Lisa MillerIn The Awakened Brain, psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller shows you how.
-
Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life
By John B. ArdenYour brain is not hardwired, it's "softwired" by experience. This book shows you how you can rewire parts of the brain to feel more positive about your life, remain calm during stressful times, and improve your social relationships.
-
Meaning of Life, Human Nature, and Delusions: How Tales about Love, Sex, Races, Gods and Progress Affect Our Lives and...
By Rui DiogoWhatever are your beliefs, background, education, political views or interests, one thing is sure: this book will engage you, teach you something new, and more importantly make you to re-think deeply about critical aspects of your daily ...
-
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development
By Institute of Medicine, National Research Council, Board on ChildrenDrawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and ...