{"product_id":"against-identity-the-wisdom-of-escaping-the-self-hardcover","title":"Against Identity: The Wisdom of Escaping the Self - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eAlexander Douglas\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Deeply interesting ... a superb critique of contemporary self-obsession' \u003c\/b\u003eSteven Poole, \u003ci\u003eGuardian \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Engrossing ... bracing ... incendiary and timely'\u003c\/b\u003e Stuart Jeffries, \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA philosopher explains why the search for identity is meaningless, and how we should escape the self \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eModern life encourages us to pursue the perfect identity. Whether we aspire to become the best lawyer or charity worker, life partner or celebrity influencer, we emulate exemplars that exist in the world - hoping it will bring us happiness. But this often leads to a complex game of envy and pride. We achieve these identities but want others to imitate us. We disagree with those whose identities contradict ours - leading to polarisation and even violence. And yet when they thump against us, we are ashamed to ring hollow. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eAgainst Identity\u003c\/i\u003e, philosopher Alexander Douglas seeks an alternative wisdom. Searching the work of three thinkers - ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, Dutch Enlightenment thinker Benedict de Spinoza, and 20th Century French theorist René Girard - he explores how identity can be a spiritual violence that leads us away from truth. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough their worlds and radically different cultures, we discover how, at moments of historical rupture, our hunger for being grows: and yet, it is exactly these times when we should make peace with our indeterminacy and discover the freedom of escaping our selves. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Lucid and absorbing ... One of my highlight books of the year'\u003c\/b\u003e Stuart Kelly, \u003ci\u003eScotsman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlexander Douglas \u003c\/b\u003ewas born in Canberra, Australia where he studied music and philosophy. He now teaches the history of philosophy and the philosophy of economics at the University of St Andrews. He has published two books on the philosophy of Benedict de Spinoza and one on the philosophy of debt. He has grown increasingly interested in combining ideas from Western and East Asian philosophy. He loves music, literature, history, and engineering. He lives with his wife in Edinburgh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.94 x 8.58 x 5.35 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 28, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53490034114867,"sku":"9780241648216","price":42.62,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/TWFEfY7L3T9780241648216.webp?v=1781533225","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/against-identity-the-wisdom-of-escaping-the-self-hardcover","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}