Linda Elder

Liberating the Mind

Overcoming Sociocentric Thought and Egocentric Tendencies

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Critical thinking leader Linda Elder reveals sociocentric and egocentric thinking as foundational obstacles to thinking. Dissecting the very core of how humans learn, think, and choose to act, Liberating the Mind shows us how to free ourselves from dysfunctional patterns and achieve truly rational thought.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: The Foundation for Critical Thinking
• Seitenzahl: 256
• Erscheinungstermin: 31. Oktober 2022
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 376g
• ISBN-13: 9781538174142
• ISBN-10: 1538174146
• Artikelnr.: 65335222

Autorenporträt

Linda Elder 2991 Kenmore Place Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Inhaltsangabe

Foreword by Gerald Nosich
Preface
Chapter 1: The problem of Sociocentrism
Chapter 2: Manifestations of Sociocentric Thought in Human Societies
Chapter 3: Sociocentric Uses of Language
Chapter 4: Sociocentric Counterfeits of Ethical Reasoning
Chapter 5: Sociocentric Thinking and Egocentric Thinking in
Interrelationship
Chapter 6: Envisioning Critical Societies
Afterword by Richard Paul
Appendix A: Some Basic Definition
Appendix B: The Logic of Sociocentric Thought
Praise for the book:
"In this bracing book, Linda Elder delineates the destructive power of
in-group bias and the inability
to see the world from other points of view, smashing shibboleths along the
way. The book offers
useful exercises to help readers think through their own preconceptions as
well as those held by their
families, religions, and societies. A practical tool for those looking to
free their minds."
-Doug Merlino, author of The Hustle
'Sociocentrism' is a useful concept, embracing a host of ways in which we
fail to give sufficient weight
to the interests of those beyond the borders of our own group - whether
that group is family, ethnic or
religious group, or our own species. I hope this book will stimulate its
readers to think critically about
their sociocentric prejudices."
-Peter Singer, author, Writings on an Ethical Life and Animal Liberation
"How easy it is to see the corrosive effect of groupthink in others-over
history or across borders.
Linda Elder wants more from us. She wants us to comprehend, in ourselves
and in our own time, just
how much our fragile psyches are built of beliefs and opinions that have
value only as signs of group
membership. Thinking for ourselves may be the most difficult and courageous
thing that we can learn
to do. The Emancipated Mind is the best guide I've read on the topic."
-Ethan Watters, Author of Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American
Psyche
"Human beings are, above all, social animals. On the whole, this is a good
thing, but it can also lead to
the kind of groupthink that poet William Blake called 'mind-forged
manacles.' The Emancipated Mind
is a clarion call for independent thinking and critical analysis. Using
compelling examples, Linda Elder
illuminates the perils of sociocentric thought."
-Mark Pendergrast, author of Victims of Memory and other books
"Many people understand the drawbacks of egocentric thought. Less widely
known, however, is the
downside at the other extreme: 'sociocentric' thought. Yet, as Linda Elder
shows so clearly, excessive
group-orientation can dangerously deform our thoughts, our lives, our
planet. Read The Emancipated
Mind and then reflect on how sociocentric thought (actually, a failure of
thought) has influenced you
and those around you. When it comes to counteracting this insidious
process, there is nothing better
than good, clean, honest, hard, serious and probing thought, and The
Emancipated Mind is a superb
handbook for precisely this antidote."
- David P. Barash, professor of psychology, University of Washington, and
author, most recently,
of Homo mysterious: evolutionary mysteries of human nature
"The Emancipated Mind: Overcoming Sociocentric Thought, by Linda Elder,
provides a detailed and
challenging review and examination of critical thinking, and serves as an
effective guide toward
careful and productive thought. Various patterns and pitfalls of common
cognitive practices are
evaluated. Abundant examples are given of human problems and failures
resulting from actions
based on self-centered and group-centered thinking. Dr. Elder's many
quotations from notable
thinkers provide interest and color . . . Linda Elder has done it again.
Her latest contribution is a very
worthwhile treatise on the importance of critical thinking. It will (and
should) be widely distributed
and read."
- Joseph Erwin, primatologist, editor and author of Captivity and Behavior