Freely determined What the new psychology of the self teaches us about how to live

Kennon M. Sheldon

Book - 2022

"For centuries, philosophers have debated the question of free will. Do we make our own choices? Or are we more like rudderless ships drifting on the ocean, buffeted by winds and currents outside ourselves? In TK, research psychologist Ken Sheldon reveals that the way we answer these questions has serious implications for our wellbeing. We may never know for certain whether free will exists, Sheldon argues, but recent studies have found that believing in free will matters--indeed, it's an essential component of psychological health. Freely Determined offers an argument for embracing our capacity to choose our own destiny, and a guide for how we might recognize our freedom and use it wisely. Drawing on his own groundbreaking work o...n motivation, as well as recent research in personality science and social psychology, Sheldon shows us that far from being in the thrall of animal urges and unconscious biases, we humans are constantly making conscious choices: whether to eat the nachos or the salad, whether to shoot the basketball or pass it to a teammate, whether to take that job or marry that person or write that novella. Indeed, over decades of research, Sheldon has established that seeing ourselves as change-makers in our own lives, and in the world, helps us feel happier and even behave more ethically. By identifying and pursuing our deepest values, he argues, we can set and achieve meaningful goals, ones that will help us and our communities flourish. Offering readers insight into how they can live a more self-directed, satisfying life, Freely Determined demystifies the science of choice and reveals that we are radically free to live with greater purpose"--

Saved in:

2nd Floor Show me where

123/Sheldon
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 123/Sheldon Checked In
Subjects
Published
New York : Basic Books 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Kennon M. Sheldon (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
260 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-243) and index.
ISBN
9781541620360
  • Introduction: Why Free Will Matters
  • Chapter 1. The Problems with Determinism
  • Chapter 2. The Grand Hierarchy of Human Reality
  • Chapter 3. The Source of Our Free Will
  • Chapter 4. If We're Free, Why Don't We Feel Free?
  • Chapter 5. Untangling the Mysteries of the Symbolic Self
  • Chapter 6. Finding the Symbolic Self in the Brain
  • Chapter 7. The Problem of Too Much Freedom
  • Chapter 8. What Brings Happiness
  • Chapter 9. The Digital Self
  • Chapter 10. The Creative Process of Living
  • Epilogue: Living Well Together
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Index
Review by Library Journal Review

Philosophers and psychologists have long debated whether humans have free will. Sheldon (psychology. Univ. of Missouri) debunks the deterministic mindset suggesting such a view cannot explain behaviors and personality. Based on extensive research, Sheldon concludes that free will not only exists but is inescapable. Denying its existence leads to unhappiness and even increases immoral behavior. Readers are introduced to the concept of the symbolic self, the lynch pin of free will, which sets goals, considers options to achieve them, and then acts on the best ones. Readers will learn the happiest people feel competent, autonomous, and connected to others. By selecting the goals that are congruent with what the individual wants, rather than what others want them to do, they will be happier. The author also discusses the concept of group consciousness and suggests that, over time, humans may evolve to develop a group consciousness. Even staunch determinists will have difficulty finding holes in Sheldon's cohesive argument. Philosophy, psychology, and sociology students interested in the concept of free will won't be disappointed. VERDICT General readers with an interest in the relationship between happiness and personal choice will appreciate Sheldon's clear, accessible writing. Highly recommended.--Lydia Olszak

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A professor of psychology takes a close look at how we make decisions and how the process affects us. The concepts of self-knowledge and free will are often left to philosophers, but Sheldon, who specializes in motivation, well-being, and "positive psychology," is more interested in the real-world implications. On one side are the determinists, who believe that personality is entirely the result of a wide range of intrinsic factors, including brain structure. In this view, the idea of choice is an illusion. Sheldon can see the intellectual sense in this idea but cannot accept that humans are merely the sum of parts and influences. He has little time for determinists who argue that criminals, for example, are not responsible for their actions and that their actions are the fault of everyone but themselves. He also cites evidence showing that a belief in determinism "tends to make people less competent, less happy, and less moral" and that "experiments show that convincing people to believe in determinism negatively affects them in many ways. The results of these experiments provide yet more reason for doubt, and reason to pause, on the road to fatalism." Sheldon generally comes down on the side of free will as a fundamental aspect of being human, although he acknowledges the difficulty of defining it and locating its origins. He devotes several chapters to "the symbolic self," which "emerges from and is built upon brain processes but is not strictly determined by them." Along the way, he examines a number of experiments that have examined the nature and limitations of decision-making. This is interesting stuff, so it's unfortunate that Sheldon wanders in the final third of the book. The sections on happiness research and artificial intelligence don't adequately connect to the determinist-vs.--free will argument. However, the author explores a variety of intriguing topics in an articulate, logical way. A fresh perspective on an old debate, arguing for self-awareness, personal responsibility, and clear thinking. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.