Description
Book SynopsisSketches the history of the belief that human beings are essentially their brains, and documents and critically discusses its contemporary forms across a range of contexts, including mental health, the human sciences, and literature and film.
Trade Review"Being Brains offers a terrifically thoughtful and thorough examination of the 'neuro-' turn in various disciplines. On the basis of solid research and subtle analysis, Vidal and Ortega give readers conceptual and critical tools to make sense of widespread claims that studying the 'neural correlates' of various activities-art and religion, for instance- will transform or even replace other ways of making sense of what humans do. The book will be a major touchstone in cross-disciplinary discussions about the implications of our contemporary fascination with brains." -- -John Tresch University of Pennsylvania
Table of ContentsTo Begin With | 1
1. Genealogy of the Cerebral Subject | 13
2. Disciplines of the Neuro | 58
3. Cerebralizing Distress | 130
4. Brains on Screen and Paper | 189
“Up for Grabs” | 227
Acknowledgments | 233
Notes | 235
Bibliography | 243
Index | 305
