Overview

Current research claims loneliness is passively caused by external conditions: environmental, cultural, situational, and even chemical imbalances in the brain and hence avoidable. In this book, the author argues that loneliness is actively constituted by acts of reflexive self-consciousness (Kant) and transcendent intentionality (Husserl) and is, therefore, unavoidable. This work employs a historical, conceptual, and interdisciplinary approach (philosophy, psychology, literature, sociology, etc.) criticizing both psychoanalysis and neuroscience. The book pits materialism, mechanism, determinism, empiricism, phenomenalism, behaviorism, and the neurosciences against dualism, both subjective and objective idealism, rationalism, freedom, phenomenology, and existentialism. It offers a dynamic of loneliness, whose spontaneous subconscious sources undercuts the unconscious of Freud and the “computerism” of the neurosciences by challenging their claims to be predictive sciences.

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Reviews

Indeed, a most impressive survey has been undertaken by Professor Ben Mijuskovic in his fine book, Loneliness in Philosophy, Psychology, and Literature. He shows most effectively how prominent the themes of literature and inwardness have been in creative literature from quite early times, ... down to the most recent writers of fiction and philosophy. - H. D. Lewis, editor of Religious Studies The thesis of Mijuskovic's study is that the central motive of human conduct is the fear of aloneness. ... His argument develops in a surprising and improbable direction: Whereas most thinkers have regarded loneliness as a secondary and derived condition, stemming from the interruption of an original union with others, he feels that the ultimate and primordial human state is that of being alone and that relatedness to others is the secondary formation. ... I would suggest that by locating loneliness in the heart of universal human nature, he has transformed the feeling of alienated solitude into the most deeply shared of all human experience. - George E. Atwood, All Men Are Together in Their Loneliness, in Contemporary Psychology The book is undoubtedly the best treatment of loneliness from the philosophical perspective and is likely to remain so for a long time. Furthermore, the philosophical perspective, at this time and possibly for the indefinite future, may offer the most understanding (versus explanation ) of the subject. Professor Mijuskovic has ably defended his thesis that man's loneliness is made possible by the reflexive nature of consciousness. He illustrates, through numerous philosophical arguments and literary examples, that man's aloneness is the primary truth of human existence. The work is contemporary in its 'in touchness' with man's predicament but at the same time demolishes the trite and falsely comforting contention that loneliness is a problem of recent civilization. It is rich enough in reference material to serve as an excellent resource for any student of man. - Joseph Hartog, editor of the Anatomy of Loneliness

Indeed, a most impressive survey has been undertaken by Professor Ben Mijuskovic in his fine book, Loneliness in Philosophy, Psychology, and Literature. He shows most effectively how prominent the themes of literature and inwardness have been in creative literature from quite early times, ... down to the most recent writers of fiction and philosophy. - H. D. Lewis, editor of Religious Studies The thesis of Mijuskovic's study is that the central motive of human conduct is the fear of aloneness. ... His argument develops in a surprising and improbable direction: Whereas most thinkers have regarded loneliness as a secondary and derived condition, stemming from the interruption of an original union with others, he feels that the ultimate and primordial human state is that of being alone and that relatedness to others is the secondary formation. ... I would suggest that by locating loneliness in the heart of universal human nature, he has transformed the feeling of alienated solitude into the most deeply shared of all human experience. - George E. Atwood, All Men Are Together in Their Loneliness, in Contemporary Psychology The book is undoubtedly the best treatment of loneliness from the philosophical perspective and is likely to remain so for a long time. Furthermore, the philosophical perspective, at this time and possibly for the indefinite future, may offer the most understanding (versus explanation ) of the subject. Professor Mijuskovic has ably defended his thesis that man's loneliness is made possible by the reflexive nature of consciousness. He illustrates, through numerous philosophical arguments and literary examples, that man's aloneness is the primary truth of human existence. The work is contemporary in its `in touchness' with man's predicament but at the same time demolishes the trite and falsely comforting contention that loneliness is a problem of recent civilization. It is rich enough in reference material to serve as an excellent resource for any student of man. - Joseph Hartog, editor of the Anatomy of Loneliness

Indeed, a most impressive survey has been undertaken by Professor Ben Mijuskovic in his fine book, Loneliness in Philosophy, Psychology, and Literature. He shows most effectively how prominent the themes of literature and inwardness have been in creative literature from quite early times, ... down to the most recent writers of fiction and philosophy. - H. D. Lewis, editor of Religious Studies The thesis of Mijuskovic's study is that the central motive of human conduct is the fear of aloneness. ... His argument develops in a surprising and improbable direction: Whereas most thinkers have regarded loneliness as a secondary and derived condition, stemming from the interruption of an original union with others, he feels that the ultimate and primordial human state is that of being alone and that relatedness to others is the secondary formation. ... I would suggest that by locating loneliness in the heart of universal human nature, he has transformed the feeling of alienated solitude into the most deeply shared of all human experience. - George E. Atwood, All Men Are Together in Their Loneliness, in Contemporary Psychology The book is undoubtedly the best treatment of loneliness from the philosophical perspective and is likely to remain so for a long time. Furthermore, the philosophical perspective, at this time and possibly for the indefinite future, may offer the most understanding (versus explanation ) of the subject. Professor Mijuskovic has ably defended his thesis that man's loneliness is made possible by the reflexive nature of consciousness. He illustrates, through numerous philosophical arguments and literary examples, that man's aloneness is the primary truth of human existence. The work is contemporary in its `in touchness' with man's predicament but at the same time demolishes the trite and falsely comforting contention that loneliness is a problem of recent civilization. It is rich enough in reference material to serve as an excellent resource for any student of man. - Joseph Hartog, editor of the Anatomy of Loneliness

Author Information

Ben Mijuskovic, Ph.D (University of California, San Diego), is a tenured Associate Professor, and teaches at California State University. He is a licensed Clinical Therapist and author of 4 books and 60 articles.

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