Self by Eilis Ward
This book argues that we have got it wrong in the West with our belief in a 'self' that is autonomous and separate from others, exemplified by the entrepreneurial self: always on, always positive and always self-improving. This is the neoliberal self, a particular creature of late capitalism. However, as argued here, this view is harmful to us. It is the source of much of our suffering. Proposing as an antidote a Zen Buddhist account of the self, the book points to the possibility of true human liberation and a kinder world for all. In Zen, the self is not separate from others and our individual and collective suffering is intimately bound together. The author, a social scientist and long-standing Zen practitioner, draws on both personal experience and scholarly insight to make her case. No prior knowledge of Buddhism or of neoliberal thought is required of the reader - just a willingness to let go of some preconceived ideas and a curiosity about a different way of being.
Eilis Ward was a lecturer in the School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway. She is a social scientist and Zen practitioner.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781782054870 |
| ISBN 10 | 1782054871 |
| Title | Self |
| Author | Eilis Ward |
| Series | Sireacht |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Cork University Press |
| Year published | 2021-10-08 |
| Number of pages | 178 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |