Good reads

Here are snippets from a couple of recent posts by Colin McGinn. Included are references to two recent publications of his, a book and a book review, the reading of which should offer even more food for thought.

MF

…religious belief does connect with a topic that does interest me: psychological manipulation. As it happens, I have a new book (very short) coming out on it next month, called–wait for it–Mindfucking. In it I analyze this concept, just as we analytic philosophers are supposed to. People I mention it to think I must be being funny or provocative, but it is actually quite a serious work, with many a ponderous formulation. I’m interested in how our minds can be manipulated–by other people, the media, governments, whole disciplines. Perhaps one’s main intellectual responsibility is to ensure that one’s mind has not been fucked by outside forces intent on manipulation and control.

Gloom

I just wrote a review of Against Happiness by Eric G. Wilson for the Wall Street Journal. It’s an interesting and provocative book, arguing that American culture is far too obsessed with happiness and not respectful enough of misery. The author admits to his melancholic tendencies, but celebrates them, rather than lamenting them. The general point is that gloom produces insight, creativity and depth, while happiness is bland and static. It raises the question in my mind of whether utilitarianism might have neglected the fact that melancholy can sometimes be a good thing–both instrumentally and intrinsically. Instrumentally, because it can lead to wisdom, creativity etc; but also intrinsically, in that a certain sort of melancholy might be good in itself.

A reader of this blog offered today to send me a copy of “From Mirror Neurons to Moral Neuropolitics“, a paper discussing some of the latest findings on the topic of empathy.

I’m quite eager to read it. Empathy ( from the Greek εμπάθεια, “to make suffer”) has always been a bit of a mystery to those who see life as simply a matter of genetic survival. Love and empathy often cause us to act in ways contrary to the imperative to pass along our genes. Humans will put their own survival at risk because of empathic feelings or thoughts. In this context, empathy could be seen as detrimental to evolution. Yet it is generally acknowledged as one of our most noble motivations. I’ll be posting portions of the paper, if permitted, for those of you who share my fascination with this quizzical ability we have to recognize, perceive and experientially feel the emotion of another without actually sharing those feelings or emotions.