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Absence of Mind

The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self
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( 979 ratings, 158 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Absence of Mind by Marilynne Robinson explores the limitations of science in addressing the complexities of human consciousness and the mind. Robinson critiques modern attempts to explain human thought purely through materialist and reductionist perspectives, advocating instead for a view that acknowledges the depth and mystery inherent in subjective experience. This philosophical work encourages readers to consider the intrinsic value of human intellect and self-awareness.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by the intersection of science and spirituality, as Marilynne Robinson challenges reductionist views that dismiss the complexity of human consciousness. This work delves into philosophical and psychological discussions, questioning the simplistic interpretations of human nature prevalent in modern thought.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

By defending the importance of individual reflection, this title celebrates the power and variety of human consciousness in the tradition of William James. It explores the nature of subjectivity and considers the culture in which Sigmund Freud that was situated and its influence on his model of self and civilization.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

One of our best contemporary writers explores the tension between science and religion and reveals how our concept of mind determines how we understand and value human nature and human civilization.

In this ambitious book, acclaimed writer Marilynne Robinson applies her astute intellect to some of the most vexing topics in the history of human thoughtβ€”science, religion, and consciousness. Crafted with the same care and insight as her award-winning novels, Absence of Mind challenges postmodern atheists who crusade against religion under the banner of science. In Robinson’s view, scientific reasoning does not denote a sense of logical infallibility, as thinkers like Richard Dawkins might suggest. Instead, in its purest form, science represents a search for answers. It engages the problem of knowledge, an aspect of the mystery of consciousness, rather than providing a simple and final model of reality.

By defending the importance of individual reflection, Robinson celebrates the power and variety of human consciousness in the tradition of William James. She explores the nature of subjectivity and considers the culture in which Sigmund Freud was situated and its influence on his model of self and civilisation. Through keen interpretations of language, emotion, science, and poetry, Absence of Mind restores human consciousness to its central place in the religion-science debate.

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  • Absence of Mind
    One of our best contemporary writers explores the tension between science and religion and reveals how our concept of mind determines how we understand and value human nature and human civilization. In this ambitious book, acclaimed writer Marilynne Robinson applies her astute intellect to some of the most vexing topics in the history of human thoughtβ€”science, religion, and consciousness. Crafted...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The reviews for Absence of Mind highlight Marilynne Robinson's compelling argument and elegant prose. The book combines her mastery in literature with a deep, introspective examination of science, religion, and consciousness, challenging the idea of humans as purely evolved beings. Robinson's work is praised for its intellectual depth, philosophical rigor, and ability to provoke thoughtful reflection on modernity, faith, and the complexity of the human mind.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300171471

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 June 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 181g

Pages: 176

About the Author

Marilynne Robinson is the author of Gilead, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for fiction; Home, winner of the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction; and Housekeeping, winner of the 1982 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for first fiction. She is also the author of two previous books of nonfiction, Mother Country and The Death of Adam. She teaches at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and lives in Iowa City.

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