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    In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay
    In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay
    In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay
    Ebook223 pages3 hours

    In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay

    By John Cottingham

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    About this ebook

    How our beliefs about the soul have developed through the ages, and why an understanding of it still matters today

    The concept of the soul has been a recurring area of exploration since ancient times. What do we mean when we talk about finding our soul, how do we know we have one, and does it hold any relevance in today’s scientifically and technologically dominated society? From Socrates and Augustine to Darwin and Freud, In Search of the Soul takes readers on a concise, accessible journey into the origins of the soul in Western philosophy and culture, and examines how the idea has developed throughout history to the present. Touching on literature, music, art, and theology, John Cottingham illustrates how, far from being redundant in contemporary times, the soul attunes us to the importance of meaning and value, and experience and growth. A better understanding of the soul might help all of us better understand what it is to be human.

    Cottingham delves into the evolution of our thoughts about the soul through landmark works—including those of Aristotle, Plato, and Descartes. He considers the nature of consciousness and subjective experience, and discusses the psychoanalytic view that large parts of the human psyche are hidden from direct conscious awareness. He also reflects on the mysterious and universal longing for transcendence that is an indelible part of our human makeup. Looking at the soul’s many dimensions—historical, moral, psychological, and spiritual—Cottingham makes a case for how it exerts a powerful pull on all of us.

    In Search of the Soul is a testimony to how the soul remains a profoundly significant aspect of human flourishing.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPrinceton University Press
    Release dateFeb 11, 2020
    ISBN9780691197586
    In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay
    Author

    John Cottingham

    John Cottingham is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading and an Honorary Fellow of St John's College, Oxford. His much acclaimed recent titles include Philosophy and the Good Life, On the Meaning of Life and The Spiritual Dimension, and he is also well-known for his extensive writings in the history of philosophy and in ethics. He is President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, and Editor of the journal Ratio.

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      In Search of the Soul - John Cottingham

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