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On Thoughtlessness

An Existential Examination of Death Denial, Meaning, and Play

On Thoughtlessness cover

On Thoughtlessness

An Existential Examination of Death Denial, Meaning, and Play

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Pre-order. Available Feb 04 2027
$120.92 RRP $151.15 Website price saving $30.23 (20%)

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Description

Expanding the study of thoughtlessness, this book considers its role in situations such as group hate and the existential themes of avoidance of thinking about death and despair.

Within the framework of existentialism, the author argues, there are different lenses through which to conceive our relationship to meaning, such as avoidance of thinking about the possibility of our death, and episodic-sometimes lasting-feelings that the world, and our place in it, is meaningless. Making this foray into existential thinking reveals a new light in which to view thoughtlessness; or, one's inability, or lack thereof, to conceive of a position outside of one's immediate conscious awareness. The picture becomes more complex, however, as the author explores the realms of social theory and psychoanalysis and their connections to thoughtlessness. Ultimately, thoughtlessness can be overcome both individually and socially by reducing our reliance on a thin notion of objectivity and reintroducing a notion of play in language and interpretation.

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Table of Contents

Introduction: On Thoughtlessness
1. Hatred without Thought
2. The Denial of Death and Thoughtlessness
a. Existentialism: Being-toward-Death and Despair
b. The Denial of Death and Terror Management Theory
c. Defenses
d. Limitations
3. Thoughtlessness and Meaninglessness
a. Absurdity
b. Ambiguity
c. Automaticity
4. Meaningfulness, Inward and Outward
a. Ambiguity
b. As-structure
c. As-if-structure
d. Antidotes
i. Virtue
ii. Narrative
iii. Play
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Feb 04 2027
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 256
ISBN 9781978764873
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Matthew P. Meyer

Matthew P. Meyer is assistant professor of philoso…

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