Authors:

DUNCAN, J.D.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2025

CBU number:

9163

Abstract:

Why are we so often in conflict—arguing with ourselves and with others, uncertain over who we are what we need from our lives? In The Animal and the Thinker, the world-leading, pioneering neuroscientist John Duncan explains that each of us is not just one person – we are two. On one side are our animal instincts, built on the sophisticated needs of human life through evolution. This animal side delivers the sense that our lives have meaning, but struggles to navigate the complexity of the modern world. On the other side is our rational brain. It generates an infinite world of new ideas, but is often helpless in the face of life’s bigger questions. Dovetailing these two competing sides of ourselves, Duncan draws on a lifetime’s work to attack puzzles that have concerned thinkers, writers and philosophers through human history. Right and wrong. Freedom and responsibility. Women and men. Democracy and justice. Ambition and fulfilment. Understanding how these two sides of ourselves interact offers revealing and often surprising answers to some of the great questions of our lives. In this book, Duncan challenges the traditional idea of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He argues that the animal side of our nature should be understood and embraced, not overcome or suppressed. In the context of modern culture wars and political upheaval, The Animal and the Thinker shows the strengths and limits of each side of ourselves. Discover a new, enriching perspective on our needs, our struggles, and our essential humanity.