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Western Conceptions of the Individual

Author : Brian Morris

Publisher : Taylor & Francis

Page : 446 pages

File Size : 11,73 MB

Release : 2024-11-01

Category : Social Science

ISBN : 1040279716

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Book Description

This is a comprehensive study of the varying conceptions of the human subject in the Western intellectual tradition. Although informed by an anthropological perspective, the author draws on material from all the major intellectual disciplines that have contributed to this tradition and offers biographical and theoretical vignettes of all the major Western scholars. By scrutinizing the classical texts of the Western tradition, he succeeds in delineating the differing conceptions of the human individual which emerge from these writings, and gives a guide to the most important ideas in Western cultural traditions.



Inventing the Individual

Author : Larry Siedentop

Publisher : Harvard University Press

Page : 443 pages

File Size : 24,56 MB

Release : 2014-10-20

Category : History

ISBN : 0674417534

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Book Description

Here, in a grand narrative spanning 1,800 years of European history, a distinguished political philosopher firmly rejects Western liberalism’s usual account of itself: its emergence in opposition to religion in the early modern era. Larry Siedentop argues instead that liberal thought is, in its underlying assumptions, the offspring of the Church. “It is a magnificent work of intellectual, psychological, and spiritual history. It is hard to decide which is more remarkable: the breadth of learning displayed on almost every page, the infectious enthusiasm that suffuses the whole book, the riveting originality of the central argument, or the emotional power and force with which it is deployed.” —David Marquand, New Republic “Larry Siedentop has written a philosophical history in the spirit of Voltaire, Condorcet, Hegel, and Guizot...At a time when we on the left need to be stirred from our dogmatic slumbers, Inventing the Individual is a reminder of some core values that are pretty widely shared.” —James Miller, The Nation “In this learned, subtle, enjoyable and digestible work [Siedentop] has offered back to us a proper version of ourselves. He has explained us to ourselves...[A] magisterial, timeless yet timely work.” —Douglas Murray, The Spectator “Like the best books, Inventing the Individual both teaches you something new and makes you want to argue with it.” —Kenan Malik, The Independent



The Western Illusion of Human Nature

Author : Marshall Sahlins

Publisher : Paradigm

Page : 124 pages

File Size : 40,82 MB

Release : 2008

Category : Social Science

ISBN :

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Book Description

Reflecting the decline in college courses on Western Civilization, Marshall Sahlins aims to accelerate the trend by reducing "Western Civ" to about two hours. He cites Nietzsche to the effect that deep issues are like cold baths; one should get into and out of them as quickly as possible. The deep issue here is the ancient Western specter of a presocial and antisocial human nature: a supposedly innate self-interest that is represented in our native folklore as the basis or nemesis of cultural order. Yet these Western notions of nature and culture ignore the one truly universal character of human sociality: namely, symbolically constructed kinship relations. Kinsmen are members of one another: they live each other's lives and die each other's deaths. But where the existence of the other is thus incorporated in the being of the self, neither interest, nor agency or even experience is an individual fact, let alone an egoistic disposition. "Sorry, beg your pardon," Sahlins concludes, Western society has been built on a perverse and mistaken idea of human nature.



The Western Concept of Individualism and Society Encounters Ghana

Author : Rev. Dr. John Doe Dormah

Publisher : iUniverse

Page : 212 pages

File Size : 39,46 MB

Release : 2018-10-10

Category : Philosophy

ISBN : 1532058586

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Book Description

This work centers on how the Western concept of individualism as a social philosophical thought system has and continues to influence the individual in the Ghanaian society today. The work concentrates on the impact of this concept of the individual in his society in so far as social, political, economic, religious life are concerned. The ‘individual,’ as it is conceived here, is defined according to the definition of the new Oxford dictionary, referring to “the single human being distinct from a group, a class, or a family.” This work brings into consideration the welfare of the individual, which is being neglected in Ghana today. The work starts with a dialectical development of the concept of the individual from late antiquity through to the period after the Enlightenment. The purpose of this chapter is to see the philosophy behind the individual as the most important object of nature. It continues with individualism as a philosophical concept and how the individual’s social, political, economic, religious life are affected. Attention is also given to Ghana to see the concept of the individual and its relationship to family life, society, economic prosperity, the transcendental, morality, and life after death. Ghana’s encounter with the West and the impact of this encounter on the individual and his society are also discussed. Finally, there is a look at the situation as it is today and what schools of thought or camps exist and the ideas that are being proposed to give value to the individual as a citizen of Ghana. This is a piece that is recommended for all because it encompasses all there is to know about the individual, and it brings out the real meaning of an individual.



The WEIRDest People in the World

Author : Joseph Henrich

Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Page : 420 pages

File Size : 23,30 MB

Release : 2020-09-08

Category : Psychology

ISBN : 0374710457

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Book Description

A New York Times Notable Book of 2020 A Bloomberg Best Non-Fiction Book of 2020 A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2020 A Human Behavior & Evolution Society Must-Read Popular Evolution Book of 2020 A bold, epic account of how the co-evolution of psychology and culture created the peculiar Western mind that has profoundly shaped the modern world. Perhaps you are WEIRD: raised in a society that is Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. If so, you’re rather psychologically peculiar. Unlike much of the world today, and most people who have ever lived, WEIRD people are highly individualistic, self-obsessed, control-oriented, nonconformist, and analytical. They focus on themselves—their attributes, accomplishments, and aspirations—over their relationships and social roles. How did WEIRD populations become so psychologically distinct? What role did these psychological differences play in the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe during the last few centuries? In The WEIRDest People in the World, Joseph Henrich draws on cutting-edge research in anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explore these questions and more. He illuminates the origins and evolution of family structures, marriage, and religion, and the profound impact these cultural transformations had on human psychology. Mapping these shifts through ancient history and late antiquity, Henrich reveals that the most fundamental institutions of kinship and marriage changed dramatically under pressure from the Roman Catholic Church. It was these changes that gave rise to the WEIRD psychology that would coevolve with impersonal markets, occupational specialization, and free competition—laying the foundation for the modern world. Provocative and engaging in both its broad scope and its surprising details, The WEIRDest People in the World explores how culture, institutions, and psychology shape one another, and explains what this means for both our most personal sense of who we are as individuals and also the large-scale social, political, and economic forces that drive human history. Includes black-and-white illustrations.



The Anthropology of Friendship

Author : Sandra Bell

Publisher : Routledge

Page : 182 pages

File Size : 19,18 MB

Release : 2020-08-20

Category : Family & Relationships

ISBN : 1000323951

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Book Description

Friendship is usually seen as a vital part of most people's lives in the West. From our friends, we hope to derive emotional support, advice and material help in times of need. In this pioneering book, basic assumptions about friendship are examined from a cross-cultural point of view. Is friendship only a western conception or is it possible to identify friends in such places as Papua New Guinea, Kenya, China, and Brazil? In seeking to answer this question, contributors also explore what friendship means closer to home, from the bar to the office, and address the following:* Are friendships voluntary?* Should friends be distinguished sharply from relatives?* Do work and friendship mix?* Does friendship support or subvert the social order?* How is friendship shaped by the nature of the person, gender, and the relationship between private and public life?* How is friendship affected when morality is compromised by self-interest?This book represents one of the few major attempts to deal with friendship from a comparative perspective. In achieving this aim, it demonstrates the culture-bound nature of many assumptions concerning one of the most basic building-blocks of western social relationships. More importantly, it signposts the future of social relations in many parts of the world, where older social bonds based on kinship or proximity are being challenged by flexible ties forged when people move within local, national and increasingly global networks of social relations.



Orientalism

Author : Edward W. Said

Publisher : Vintage

Page : 434 pages

File Size : 10,96 MB

Release : 2014-10-01

Category : Social Science

ISBN : 0804153868

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Book Description

A groundbreaking critique of the West's historical, cultural, and political perceptions of the East that is—three decades after its first publication—one of the most important books written about our divided world. "Intellectual history on a high order ... and very exciting." —The New York Times In this wide-ranging, intellectually vigorous study, Said traces the origins of "orientalism" to the centuries-long period during which Europe dominated the Middle and Near East and, from its position of power, defined "the orient" simply as "other than" the occident. This entrenched view continues to dominate western ideas and, because it does not allow the East to represent itself, prevents true understanding.



Global Media Ethics

Author : Stephen J. A. Ward

Publisher : John Wiley & Sons

Page : 354 pages

File Size : 23,81 MB

Release : 2013-01-09

Category : Social Science

ISBN : 1118359828

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Book Description

Global Media Ethics Global Media Ethics Problems and Perspectives “The book pleads convincingly that news media outlets and practitioners should urgently reconsider their practices and norms in a world gone global and digitally convergent. The various contributions broach the topic from completely different perspectives to create a very stimulating and constructive framework to identify and face the new ethical challenges of journalism and the news media.” François Heinderyckx, Université libre de Bruxelles “News that crosses boundaries of culture and geography means rethinking media ethics. The demands of role, audience, digital transmission, and an industry under fierce economic pressure require the insightful approach to ethical thinking this volume provides. From theory to practice, this book has something for scholars and professionals alike.” Lee Wilkins, Journal of Mass Media Ethics Global Media Ethics is a cross-cultural exploration of the conceptual and practical issues facing media ethics in a global world. Focusing on the ethical concepts, principles, and questions in an era of major change, this unique textbook explores the aims and norms that should guide the publication of stories that impact across borders, and which affect a globally linked, pluralistic world. Through case studies, analysis of emerging practices, and theoretical discussion, a team of leading journalism and communication experts investigate the impact of major global trends on responsible journalism and lead readers to better understand changes in media ethics. Chapters look at how these changes promote or inhibit responsible journalism, how such changes challenge existing standards, and how media ethics can develop to take account of global news media. In light of the fact that media journalism is now, and will increasingly become, multimedia in format and global in its scope and influence, the book argues that global media impact entails global responsibilities: It is therefore critical that media ethics rethinks its basic notions, standards, and practices from a more cosmopolitan perspective.





Ethics Embodied

Author : Erin McCarthy

Publisher : Lexington Books

Page : 136 pages

File Size : 39,55 MB

Release : 2010-07-17

Category : Philosophy

ISBN : 0739147862

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Book Description

While the body has been largely neglected in much of traditional Western philosophy, there is a rich tradition of Japanese philosophy in which this is not the case. Ethics Embodied explains how Japanese philosophy includes the body as an integral part of selfhood and ethics and shows how it provides an alternative and challenge to the traditional Western philosophical view of self and ethics. Through a comparative feminist approach, the book articulates the striking similarities that exist between certain strands of Japanese philosophy and feminist philosophy concerning selfhood, ethics and the body. Despite the similarities, McCarthy argues that there are significant differences between these philosophies and that each reveals important limitations of the other. Thus, the book urges a view of ethical embodied selfhood that goes beyond where each of these views leaves us when considered in isolation. With keen analysis and constructive comparison, this book will be accessible for students and scholars familiar with the Western philosophical tradition, while still adding a more global perspective.