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The Resource Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer

Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer

Creator
Author
Summary
"A psychiatrist presents a compelling argument for how human purpose and caring emerged in a spontaneous and unguided universe. Drawing on years of wide-ranging, intensive clinical experience, and his own family experience with cancer, the author helps the reader to understand how people cope with random adversity without recourse to supernatural belief. In fact, as he explains, coming to terms with randomness, while initially frightening, can be liberating and empowering. Realizing that the universe is fundamentally random is not usually the cause of nihilism, apathy, or feelings of pointlessness about life. Written for those seeking a scientifically sound yet humanistic worldview, the book examines science's inroads into the big questions claimed by religion and philosophy. Dr. Lewis shows how our mistaken intuitions about purpose are entangled with assumptions that life events happen for an intended reason and that the universe has inherent purpose. Integrating disparate scientific fields, he shows how not only the universe, life, and consciousness could have emerged and evolved spontaneously and unguided - so too could purpose, morality, and meaning. There is persuasive evidence that these qualities evolved naturally and unmysteriously in humans, as conscious, goal-directed social animals. While acknowledging the social and psychological value of progressive forms of religion, the author respectfully deconstructs even the most sophisticated theistic arguments for a purposeful universe. Instead, he offers an evidence-based, realistic yet optimistic, compassionate worldview"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
352 pages
Contents
  • The human view of purpose. The purpose-driven life : why we think that everything happens for a reason (and it's all about us) ; Don't believe everything you think : the unreliability of subjective perception in discerning pattern and purpose ; Unrealistic optimism and expecting the universe to care : the universe has no purpose, but we do ; Persistence of belief in a purposeful universe--despite a decline of religious faith
  • The spontaneous, unguided universe. Science's astounding inroads into addressing the "big questions" : how everything came to be, and the scientific approach to uncertainty ; The universe's spontaneous, unguided creativity : complexity, self-organization, and the phenomenon of emergence ; Mind from brain : how matter came to perceive, think, and know itself
  • The spontaneous, unguided emergence of purpose and morality. The emergence of purpose : the evolution of goal-directedness and will ; The emergence of morality : the evolution of cooperation and compassion
  • Meaning-making within and without religion. Where does this leave religion and spirituality? differing definitions of God, and a continuing role for religion ; Making life meaningful in the face of anxiety and adversity--in a universe that is not itself purposeful or caring ; Deriving inspiuration from a complex, naturalistic view--of the universe, life, and the course of human civilization
Isbn
9781633883857
Instance
Label
Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't
Title
Finding purpose in a godless world
Title remainder
why we care even if the universe doesn't
Statement of responsibility
Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer
Creator
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
"A psychiatrist presents a compelling argument for how human purpose and caring emerged in a spontaneous and unguided universe. Drawing on years of wide-ranging, intensive clinical experience, and his own family experience with cancer, the author helps the reader to understand how people cope with random adversity without recourse to supernatural belief. In fact, as he explains, coming to terms with randomness, while initially frightening, can be liberating and empowering. Realizing that the universe is fundamentally random is not usually the cause of nihilism, apathy, or feelings of pointlessness about life. Written for those seeking a scientifically sound yet humanistic worldview, the book examines science's inroads into the big questions claimed by religion and philosophy. Dr. Lewis shows how our mistaken intuitions about purpose are entangled with assumptions that life events happen for an intended reason and that the universe has inherent purpose. Integrating disparate scientific fields, he shows how not only the universe, life, and consciousness could have emerged and evolved spontaneously and unguided - so too could purpose, morality, and meaning. There is persuasive evidence that these qualities evolved naturally and unmysteriously in humans, as conscious, goal-directed social animals. While acknowledging the social and psychological value of progressive forms of religion, the author respectfully deconstructs even the most sophisticated theistic arguments for a purposeful universe. Instead, he offers an evidence-based, realistic yet optimistic, compassionate worldview"--
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1966-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Lewis, Ralph
Index
index present
LC call number
BF778
LC item number
.L49 2018
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Meaning (Psychology)
  • Psychology, Religious
  • RELIGION
  • RELIGION
  • Meaning (Psychology)
  • Psychology, Religious
Label
Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
The human view of purpose. The purpose-driven life : why we think that everything happens for a reason (and it's all about us) ; Don't believe everything you think : the unreliability of subjective perception in discerning pattern and purpose ; Unrealistic optimism and expecting the universe to care : the universe has no purpose, but we do ; Persistence of belief in a purposeful universe--despite a decline of religious faith -- The spontaneous, unguided universe. Science's astounding inroads into addressing the "big questions" : how everything came to be, and the scientific approach to uncertainty ; The universe's spontaneous, unguided creativity : complexity, self-organization, and the phenomenon of emergence ; Mind from brain : how matter came to perceive, think, and know itself -- The spontaneous, unguided emergence of purpose and morality. The emergence of purpose : the evolution of goal-directedness and will ; The emergence of morality : the evolution of cooperation and compassion -- Meaning-making within and without religion. Where does this leave religion and spirituality? differing definitions of God, and a continuing role for religion ; Making life meaningful in the face of anxiety and adversity--in a universe that is not itself purposeful or caring ; Deriving inspiuration from a complex, naturalistic view--of the universe, life, and the course of human civilization
Control code
1002421873
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
352 pages
Isbn
9781633883857
Lccn
2018002954
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
Other control number
40028370179
System control number
(OCoLC)1002421873
Label
Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
The human view of purpose. The purpose-driven life : why we think that everything happens for a reason (and it's all about us) ; Don't believe everything you think : the unreliability of subjective perception in discerning pattern and purpose ; Unrealistic optimism and expecting the universe to care : the universe has no purpose, but we do ; Persistence of belief in a purposeful universe--despite a decline of religious faith -- The spontaneous, unguided universe. Science's astounding inroads into addressing the "big questions" : how everything came to be, and the scientific approach to uncertainty ; The universe's spontaneous, unguided creativity : complexity, self-organization, and the phenomenon of emergence ; Mind from brain : how matter came to perceive, think, and know itself -- The spontaneous, unguided emergence of purpose and morality. The emergence of purpose : the evolution of goal-directedness and will ; The emergence of morality : the evolution of cooperation and compassion -- Meaning-making within and without religion. Where does this leave religion and spirituality? differing definitions of God, and a continuing role for religion ; Making life meaningful in the face of anxiety and adversity--in a universe that is not itself purposeful or caring ; Deriving inspiuration from a complex, naturalistic view--of the universe, life, and the course of human civilization
Control code
1002421873
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
352 pages
Isbn
9781633883857
Lccn
2018002954
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
Other control number
40028370179
System control number
(OCoLC)1002421873

Subject

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