David Skrbina

An updated edition of a comprehensive study of the theory that mind exists, in some form, in all living and nonliving things. In Panpsychism in the West, the first comprehensive study of the subject, David Skrbina argues for the importance of panpsychism—the theory that mind exists, in some form, in all living and nonliving things—in consideration of the nature of consciousness and mind. Panpsychism, with its conception of mind as a general phenomenon of nature, uniquely links being and mind. More than a theory of mind, it is a meta-theory—a statement about theories of mind rather than a theory in itself. Panpsychism can parallel almost every current theory of mind; it simply holds that, no matter how one conceives of mind, such mind applies to all things. After a brief discussion of general issues surrounding philosophy of mind, Skrbina examines the panpsychist views of philosophers from the pre-Socratics to the post-structuralists. The original edition of Panpsychism in the West helped to reinvigorate a neglected and important aspect of philosophic thinking. This revised edition offers expanded and updated material that reflects the growth of panpsychism as a subdiscipline. It covers the problem of emergence of mind from a non-mental reality and the combination problem in greater detail. It offers expanded coverage of the pre-Socratics and Plato; a new section on Augustine; expanded discussions of Continental panpsychism, scientific arguments, Nietzsche, and Whitehead; and a new section on Russellian monism. With this edition, Panpsychism in the West will be continue to be the standard work on the topic.

Panpsychism in the West, revised edition

Panpsychism is the view that all things, living and nonliving, possess some mind like quality. It stands in sharp contrast to the traditional notion of mind as the property of humans and (perhaps) a few select 'higher animals'. Though surprising at first glance, panpsychism has a long and noble history in both Western and Eastern thought. Overlooked by analytical, materialist philosophy for most of the 20th century, it is now experiencing a renaissance of sorts in several areas of inquiry. A number of recent books  including Skrbina's Panpsychism in the West (2005) and Strawson et al's Consciousness and its Place in Nature (2006)  have established panpsychism as respectable and viable. Mind That Abides builds on these works. It takes panpsychism to be a plausible theory of mind and then moves forward to work out the philosophical, psychological and ethical implications. With 17 contributors from a variety of fields, this book promises to mark a wholesale change in our philosophical outlook. (Series A)

Panpsychism in the New Millennium

Mind that Abides

What if Jesus Christ, son of God, savior of humanity...never existed? The consequences would be enormous. In this book, Dr. David Skrbina argues succinctly that the biblical Jesus was in fact a hoax, a fraud, constructed by St. Paul and others. Their purpose: to undermine the hated Roman Empire. The case is well-grounded and shocking.

How St. Paul's Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years

The Jesus Hoax

What is technology? Why does it have such power in our lives? Why does it seemingly progress of its own accord, and without regard to social or environmental well-being? The quest for the essence of technology is an old one, with roots in the pre-Socratic philosophy of ancient Greece. It was then that certain thinkers first joined the ideas of technê and logos into a single worldview. The Greeks saw it as a kind of world-force, present in both the works of men and in nature itself. It was the very creative power of the cosmos. In the 20th century, German thinkers like Dessauer, Juenger, and Heidegger sought the metaphysical basis of technology, with varying success. French theologian Jacques Ellul argued persuasively that technology was an autonomous force of nature that determined all aspects of human existence, but he neglected the metaphysical underpinnings. Recent writers in the philosophy of technology have generally eschewed metaphysics altogether, preferring to concentrate on constructivist models or pragmatic analyses. In the present work, Skrbina returns to a classic metaphysical approach, seeking not so much an essence of technology but rather a deep and penetrating analysis of the entire technological phenomenon. Drawing on the Greeks, he argues for a teleological metaphysics in which increasing order in the universe is itself defined as a technological process. On this reading, all of reality constitutes a technical sphere, a "pantechnikon," of universal scope. This work — the first-ever book-length treatment of the topic — breaks new ground by providing an in-depth and critical study of the metaphysics of technology, as well as drawing out the practical consequences. Technology poses significant risks to humanity and the planet, risks that can be mitigated through a detailed philosophical analysis.

The Metaphysics of Technology

Juanita Skolimowski

For centuries, many have dreamed of an awakening of humanity, something that would restore well-being and harmony to the Earth, and to all life. One such dreamer is Henryk Skolimowski -- eco-philosopher and visionary thinker extraordinaire.This book is written in honor of Skolimowski's 80th birthday. It is a collection of 21 essays by long-time friends and acquaintances, each reflecting on the importance and value of Henryk's ideas. It is a moving tribute to one of the truly great thinkers of our day.

The Cosmic Philosophy of Henryk Skolimowski

World as Sanctuary

THE CALLING is a concept poem-book, at once scintillating and inspiring. The stars speak to us. What do they say?

The Calling

Theodore J. Kaczynski

Theodore Kaczynski saw violent collapse as the only way to bring down the techno-industrial system, and in more than a decade of mail bomb terror he killed three people and injured 23 others. One does not need to support the actions that landed Kaczynski in supermax prison to see the value of his essays disabusing the notion of heroic technology while revealing the manner in which it is destroying the planet. For the first time, readers will have an uncensored personal account of his anti-technology philosophy, including a corrected version of the notorious ''Unabomber Manifesto,''Kaczynski, s critique of anarcho-primitivism, and essays regarding ''the Coming Revolution.''

David Skrbina

About

Books

Join the club