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New at Peter White Public Library

You don’t have to be a psychologist or philosopher to contemplate the “big questions” of human existence: What is consciousness? Does free will exist? How do our immaterial minds operate in a physical universe? What really makes us human? Experts and laymen alike have spent centuries pondering these questions.

Explore some of the more recent answers in these fascinating, yet accessible, works by experts in the field of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience.

“Mind, Language, and Society: Philosophy in the Real World”

John Searle

NEW 128.2 SE

Former University of California-Berkley professor John Searle has written numerous books, articles, and essays on philosophy of mind topics in the course of his decades-long career. In “Mind, Language, and Society: Philosophy in the Real World” (1998), Searle combines his theories on perception, consciousness, intentionality, causation, free will, social constructions, and language into a cohesive philosophy of human existence and interaction in our society.

Far from being esoteric or abstruse, however, Searle’s style is direct, succinct, and accessible; no background in philosophy required! At 175 pages, he does not mince words synthesizing big ideas and deconstructing counterarguments. Indeed, Searle elucidates his analytical methods clearly, essentially providing step-by-step instructions on how to read critically, analyze assumptions, and deconstruct arguments logically. Owen Flanagan, Professor of Philosophy at Duke University, recommends: “This is the book for anyone who wants to learn about the big philosophical questions, about the views of one of our most important philosophers, and who wants a model for ‘writing well’.”

“Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind”

Annaka Harris

NEW 128.2 HA

“Consciousness is experience itself,” Annaka Harris explains in her new book “Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind.” Like Searle’s “Mind Language and Society,”

Harris’ Conscious is brief and concise, providing an overview of the most important, famous, and controversial ideas in the history of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience in only 110 pages. Her style and tone are gentle and inquisitive, introducing ideas by asking readers to wonder with her. For example, Harris illustrates Thomas Nagel’s definition of consciousness made famous in his 1974 article “What is it Like to Be a Bat?” by inviting us to reflect: “Is it like something to be you in this moment?… Is it like something to be the chair you’re sitting on?… Is it like something to be a grain of sand, a bacterium, an oak tree, a worm, an ant, a mouse, a dog?” At what point do we draw the line of conscious experience? This curious style makes her intuition-shattering theories on free will and consciousness easier to understand — and, at times, swallow. Tim Urban, TED Talker and popular blogger, applauds Harris’ book as “[o]ne of those books that fundamentally shifts the way you think about reality. Consciousness is among the hardest concepts for humans to wrap their heads around, but Annaka Harris is a masterful explainer.”

“Everything in Its Place: First Loves and Last Tales”

Oliver Sacks

NEW 921 SACKS

A contemporary polymath, dubbed the “poet laureate of contemporary medicine” by the New York Times and the “Shakespeare of science writing” in The Scientist, Oliver Sacks was a neurologist renowned for his puzzling case histories imbued with philosophical meditations. His final work, “Everything in Its Place: First Loves and Last Tales,” is a posthumous collection of essays on a wide array of topics, from the mysteries of hallucinations, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome, to the impacts of social media, technology, and gardening on our brains — and lives. The book is organized into three broad topics, “First Loves,” “Clinical Tales,” and “Life Continues,” paralleling Sacks’ life progression from childhood fascinations to career case studies and, finally, his end-of-life ruminations. Some essays, like “A Journey Inside the Brain,” “Humphrey Davy: Poet of Chemistry,” and “Seeing God in the Third Millennium,” have been published before, while others, like “Hiccups and Other Curious Behaviors,” “Why We Need Gardens,” and “Life Continues” will give readers new material to appreciate. Sacks’ unbounded curiosity and reflective abilities shine through in this work, reminding us to stop and wonder more about this world we live in.

“The Future of Work and Death”

Sean Blacknell and Wayne Walsh (writers and directors)

Kanopy

This 2015 documentary, available on the library’s streaming service Kanopy, examines the impact of technological advances on two fundamental features of human existence: work and death. Automation is changing the workforce and modern medicine is extending lifespans, but how profoundly these technological advances will change society is yet to be known. Will we progress to the point where laborious work is obsolete for humans, relegated to autonomous robots and machines? If so, how will humans make a living? What will we do with our time if we don’t have to work? Will automation be the great equalizer, or will it exacerbate income inequality? As for life, will science and technology ever cure all our human ills and deficiencies? Will we be able to augment and enhance our natural perceptual, sensory, and thinking abilities? Will advanced medicine be the great equalizer or will enhancements be something only accessible to the rich? At the heart of this documentary is the biggest question of them all: what does it mean to be human?

— Ali Fulsher, Reference Department

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