Brief History of the Soul - (Brief Histories of Philosophy) by Stewart Goetz & Charles Taliaferro (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This book is a clear and concise history of the soul in western philosophy, from Plato to cutting-edge contemporary work in philosophy of mind.

• Packed with arguments for and against a range of different, historically significant philosophies of the soul
• Addresses the essential issues, including mind-body interaction, the causal closure of the physical world, and the philosophical implications of the brain sciences for the soul's existence
• Includes coverage of theories from key figures, such as Plato, Aquinas, Locke, Hume, and Descartes
• Unique in combining the history of ideas and the development of a powerful case for a non-reductionist, non-materialist account of the soul

From the Back Cover

"From Homer's dream-demons to contemporary MRI research, the subtle and varied expression of mental life has been an obstacle to the claims of physicalism. A Brief History of the Soul takes a now formidably challenged position. The clarity and fairness of the exposition are exemplary, moving the reader from era to era, and leaving little doubt but that, as 'soul' has a rich philosophical history, so too is it likely to have a robust future."
Daniel N. Robinson, Philosophy Faculty, Oxford University

"Brief or not, this book provides a lucid account of central views of the soul in ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. The authors skillfully interact with their subject matter, consider physicalist views and objections with fairness and critical clarity, and address mind-body dualism as it has actually been held by its best proponents. The result is that a position that is often wrongly despised on shaky grounds gets a fair and accurate hearing and defense. I highly recommend this excellent book, and look forward to using it."
Keith E. Yandell, Julius R. Weinberg Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"A Brief History of the Soul accomplishes two important goals: It provides a concise history of the soul without treating that history as anachronistic, and it constantly relates its topics to contemporary issues in philosophy of mind. I enthusiastically recommend it, and will use it in my own philosophy of mind courses."
J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University

The concept of the soul is accepted in many religious traditions and widely used in fictional worlds, and yet the idea that we are anything more than physio-chemical organisms seems out of step with contemporary secular thinking. Scratch the surface of western philosophy, however, and you find a history filled with arguments in favor of the idea that we are embodied souls.

This book provides a clear and concise history of the soul, from Plato to cutting-edge contemporary work in philosophy of mind. Taking in the arguments of influential thinkers, such as Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Hume, Goetz and Taliaferro tackle keys issues, such as the problem of mind-body interaction, the causal closure of the physical world, and the philosophical implications of the brain sciences for the soul's existence.

A Brief History of the Soul brings together historical and contemporary scholarship to examine one of the essential questions of our existence.

Review Quotes

"Although they may well have their own agenda, Goetz and Taliaferro not only provide an extremely useful chronological account of how the concept of the soul developed, they also illuminate the questions it was meant to solve, and the way these are not yet satisfactorily laid to rest." (Times Higher Education Supplement, 5 July 2012)

"This is a courageous book: it takes up and defends a position to which the current intellectual climate it generally hostile, namely that human beings are embodied souls. The book's very title throws down a challenge to the philosophical establishment. Nonetheless, even the most resolute enemies of dualism will welcome Stuart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro's overview of historical and contemporary positions on the existence and nature of the soul." (Anthony Kenny, The Times Literary Supplement, December 16, 2011).

"So the book remains firmly within orthodox philosophy and science, although within these limits it can be highly recommended." (Network Review, 1 June 2011)

"All this, as well as being useful in its own right, brings us properly prepared for a serious discussion and robust response to the challenges posted to the soul by the supposed conclusions of modern science. . . An excellent read." (New Directions, 1 July 2011)

About the Author

Stewart Goetz is Ross Frederick Wicks Distinguished Professor in Philosophy and Religion at Ursinus College.

Charles Taliaferro is Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College.