Perspectives on Synchronicity, Inspiration, and the Soul - Couverture rigide

Sneller, Rico

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1527555054 ISBN 13 : 9781527555051

Editeur : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020

Synopsis

This book explores the notion of the human psyche (soul) and its continuing usefulness in the background of the ongoing and always accelerating techno-scientific revolution. The main argument here follows the assumption that this revolution, while not necessarily being a threat to humankind, is often blind or ignorant as to its subject, the human being. In the first chapters, the reader is invited to reflect on the notion of thinking as a phenomenon of consciousness that transcends merely having thoughts. Relating thinking to consciousness requires reconsidering the phenomena of inspiration and ecstasy. Provided that such a thing as inspiration exists, it makes sense to revise the solipsist or substantialist account often given of the human mind. The book defines inspiration as a clairvoyance of ones psyche, and ecstasy as the experience of this clairvoyance. Next, a case is made for synchronicity experiences as a key to a better understanding of the human psyche. While being enigmatic all throughout, synchronicity experiences, both on the individual and on the collective level, help overcome both subject/object and body/mind dualisms. It is not likely, though, that the solution they could offer will be readily accepted by (what is called) science today, since it challenges one of the latters basic premises, causality. As a more concrete example of a condensed synchronicity experience, the author dwells on physiognomy. In the final chapter, death and suffering are discussed as extreme, and therefore relevant, experiences of consciousness. The book interprets death in terms of enhanced subliminality, and suffering as unconscious resistance against maturing. Generally, this book explores a psycho-philosophical tradition, rooted in Romantic thinking (from Schelling and Schopenhauer until Klages and Jung), which has hitherto been unjustly neglected, if not repressed, by mainstream materialism and positivism. It makes a strong case for an intellectual account of the soul.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

Rico Sneller has been teaching Continental Philosophy and Ethics at Leiden University, Faculty of Humanities, and the Technical University of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. He is the Vice President of the global think-tank and network organisation APGC, and responsible for strategic planning and policy-making for the network as a whole. His current research focuses on exceptional states of consciousness in relation to philosophy. With Hans Gerding and Hein van Dongen, he published Wild Beasts of the Philosophical Desert: Philosophers on Telepathy and Other Exceptional Experiences (2014). Together with Mahmoud Masaeli, he edited a series of books on global ethics, development, and spirituality.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
• Date d'édition: 2020
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1527555054
• ISBN 13: 9781527555051
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 389
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible