{"title":"Professor of Philosophy Assaf Sharon","description":"\u003cp\u003eProfessor of Philosophy Assaf Sharon’s works delve into the intricate interplay between human thought and societal structures. His writing explores themes of control, freedom, and the philosophical underpinnings of power, inviting readers to critically examine the forces shaping modern consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRooted firmly in the realms of \u003cem\u003ePhilosophy \u0026amp; Psychology\u003c\/em\u003e, these books offer a profound reflection on the limits of reason and the dynamics of captivity—both mental and cultural. Sharon encourages a thoughtful engagement with the mechanisms that influence belief and perception.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"captive-minds-by-avishai-margalit-9780674303102","title":"Captive Minds","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom philosophers Avishai Margalit and Assaf Sharon, an erudite yet approachable inquiry into political manipulation and the grave threat it poses to human freedom today.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eManipulation is as old as history itself, yet Aldous Huxley’s paraphrase of Churchill rings truer than ever: “never have so many been manipulated so much by so few.” Manipulation presents a clear danger to liberal democracy today. Demagogues undermine civic discussion, and propagandists and conspiracy theorists create cognitive traps that erode critical thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat exactly is manipulation, and what sets it apart from other forms of influence? How does it differ from convincing, attracting, or nudging? Drawing on examples from mythology, literature, history, and politics, philosophers Margalit and Sharon argue that manipulation is not just a form of deceit and intellectual harm; it is, above all, an exercise of power. Manipulation exploits mental weaknesses and vulnerabilities with the goal of establishing control. Whereas liberal philosophers overlook manipulation, instead treating coercion as the primary form of political domination, Margalit and Sharon argue that manipulation should be seen as coercion’s insidious counterpart in undermining human freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublic support is fundamental to the legitimacy of government. Today, political manipulation is corrupting the formation and expression of public opinion, making manipulation a driving force of the global crisis of democratic decline. A timely work, but also a work for all times, \u003cem\u003eCaptive Minds\u003c\/em\u003e stands as the definitive study of a pervasive threat to political freedom and the increasingly fragile institutions that sustain it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47650533736684,"sku":"9780674303102","price":70.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780674303102-captive-minds.jpg?v=1779325710"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/professor-of-philosophy-assaf-sharon.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}