Description
Book SynopsisIn a sweeping synthesis of new research in a number of different disciplines, this book argues that we humans are not who we think we are. As he explores the interconnections between cutting-edge work in bioanthropology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, human language and learning, and beyond, James Paul Gee advances, also, a personal philosophy of language, learning, and culture, informed by his decades of work across linguistics and the social sciences. Gee argues that our schools, institutions, legal systems, and societies are designed for creatures that do not exist, thus resulting in multiple, interacting crises, such as climate change, failing institutions, and the rise of nationalist nationalism. As Gee constructs an understanding of the human that takes into account our social, collective, and historical nature, as established by recent research, he inspires readers to reflect for themselves on the very question of who we are—a key consideration for anyone interested in society, government, schools, health, activism, culture and diversity, or even just survival.
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction
Part 1
Chapter 2: Terman
Chapter 3: Humans
Chapter 4: More than Animals?
Chapter 5: Human-Made Monsters
Chapter 6: Conclusion to Part 1
Part 2
Chapter 7: Fetishes
Chapter 8: Examples of Fetishes
Chapter 9: Doubling Fetishes
Chapter 10: The Imaginarium
Chapter 11: The Conscious Brain
Chapter 12: The Gang of Six
Chapter 13: Language
Chapter 14: Stress and the State
Chapter 15. Another Attempt to Answer Our Question
Chapter 16: Conclusion to Part 2
Part 3
Chapter 17: Inter-Human Artefacts
Chapter 18: Embodied Meaning
Chapter 19: Specific Universals
Chapter 20: Morality
Chapter 21: The Examined Life
Chapter 22: Conclusion to Part 3
Part 4
Chapter 23: Plug-And-Play
Chapter 24: Morality Again
Chapter 25: Affinity
Chapter 26: Conclusions to Part 4
Chapter 27: Conclusion to Book
