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
Resource Information
The item Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of San Diego Libraries.This item is available to borrow from 1 library branch.
Resource Information
The item Finding purpose in a godless world : why we care even if the universe doesn't, Ralph Lewis ; foreword by Michael Shermer represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of San Diego Libraries.
This item is available to borrow from 1 library branch.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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