The Philosophical Roots of Loneliness and Intimacy

Ben Lazare Mijuskovic has spent 40 years researching theories of consciousness in relation to human loneliness, using an interdisciplinary and "history of ideas" approach. In this book, Mijuskovic combines Kant's theory of reflexive self-consciousness with Husserl's transcendent principle of intentionality to describe the distinctive philosophical, psychological, and sociological roots of loneliness and intimacy. He argues that loneliness is innate, unavoidable, and constituted by the structure of self-consciousness itself.

Uses an interdisciplinary, "history of ideas" approach. Synthesizes Kant's paradigm of reflexive self-consciousness with Husserl's transcendent intentionality. Argues that all human beings fear loneliness and desire to secure intimacy

Auteur

Ben Lazare Mijuskovic was associate professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, USA, prior to retirement. He is also a licensed clinical therapist and has worked for many years with the San Diego and Los Angeles Departments of Mental Health.

Contenu

Introduction.- Chapter 1: Time-Consciousness, Personal Identity, and Loneliness.- Chapter 2: Consciousness Versus Language: Wittgenstein and Russell.- Chapter 3: Loneliness and the Possibility of a Private Language.- Chapter 4: Organic Communities, Atomistic Societies, and Loneliness.- Chapter 5: Ethical Responsibility, Spontaneity, and the Problem of Evil.-Chapter 6: Ethical Principles, Criteria, and the Meaning of Human Values.-Chapter 7: Loneliness and Political Narcissism.