About the book
In Recentering the Self, Michael Washburn presents a new account of the ego, ego development, and the role of the ego in spiritual life. He starts by tracing the premodern antecedents of the notion of the ego in Greek philosophy and Christian theology and then explains the seventeenth-century emergence of the notion in Descartes's radically new account of the soul’s relation to the body. Reviewing subsequent criticisms of the notion, the author formulates a revised conception of the ego that highlights the ego's inherently two-sided nature, as a subject and agency that, although rooted within interior consciousness, lives originally and primarily in the material, social world. Washburn uses this revised conception of the ego to explain how the two sides of the ego develop in concert over major stages of the human lifespan and why the ego, despite widespread belief to the contrary, plays primarily a positive role in spiritual life. Recentering the Self makes important contributions to the history of philosophy, consciousness studies, phenomenology, developmental psychology, and spiritual or transpersonal psychology.
Editions of Recentering the Self
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781438494678
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781438494661
- PDF
- ISBN 9781438494685
Read an Excerpt
In Recentering the Self, Michael Washburn presents a new account of the ego, ego development, and the role of the ego in spiritual life. He starts by tracing the premodern antecedents of the notion of the ego in Greek philosophy and Christian theology and then explains the seventeenth-century emergence of the notion in Descartes's radically new account of the soul’s relation to the body. Reviewing subsequent criticisms of the notion, the author formulates a revised conception of the ego that highlights the ego's inherently two-sided nature, as a subject and agency that, although rooted within interior consciousness, lives originally and primarily in the material, social world. Washburn uses this revised conception of the ego to explain how the two sides of the ego develop in concert over major stages of the human lifespan and why the ego, despite widespread belief to the contrary, plays primarily a positive role in spiritual life. Recentering the Self makes important contributions to the history of philosophy, consciousness studies, phenomenology, developmental psychology, and spiritual or transpersonal psychology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Recentering the Self about?
In Recentering the Self, Michael Washburn presents a new account of the ego, ego development, and the role of the ego in spiritual life. He starts by tracing the premodern antecedents of the notion of the ego in Greek philosophy and Christian theology and then explains the seventeenth-century emergence of the notion in Descartes's radically new account of the soul’s relation to the body. Reviewing subsequent criticisms of the notion, the author formulates a revised conception of the ego that highlights the ego's inherently two-sided nature, as a subject and agency that, although rooted within interior consciousness, lives originally and primarily in the material, social world. Washburn uses this revised conception of the ego to explain how the two sides of the ego develop in concert over major stages of the human lifespan and why the ego, despite widespread belief to the contrary, plays primarily a positive role in spiritual life. Recentering the Self makes important contributions to the history of philosophy, consciousness studies, phenomenology, developmental psychology, and spiritual or transpersonal psychology.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Recentering the Self?
Society and Social Sciences > Psychology > Psychological theory, systems, schools and viewpoints
Where can I read a sample of Recentering the Self?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438494678
How long is Recentering the Self and how many pages does it have?
Recentering the Self has 534 page(s)
Is Recentering the Self part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Recentering the Self?
Michael Washburn
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Recentering the Self is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438494678) and paperback(ISBN 9781438494661) and pdf(ISBN 9781438494685)
Where can I buy Recentering the Self online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Recentering the Self from below
Where can I buy Recentering the Self?