A wonderfully extensive review of literature, from ancient Greek to contemporary thought, covering the notion of the soul, synonymous with immortality, but also – insidiously – with disembodiment, entering our belief systems through Plato’s lofty persuasions, leading us to devalue our physicality, with vast effects, impacting social order, mental health, and ecology.
Thought-provoking. An excellent springboard from which to question beliefs. It changed my attitudes.
The degree to which Christianity incorporated ideas from other sources, I found unexpectedly new.
With ecological implications in mind, Wilson explores what comprises the human person: are we animal, mind, soul, self, agent, ecosystem? He shows how our self-perception enhances or threatens biology.
Particularly satisfying are his psychoanalyses surrounding Plato, and discussions on contemporary conceptions of self.