Descartes' Error: Emotion, Rea

Damasio, Antonio R.

ISBN 10: 0380726475 / ISBN 13: 9780380726479

Published by HarpPeren, 1995

Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00109188789

Synopsis:

In this wondrously lucid and engaging book, renowned neurologist Antonio Damasio demonstrates what many of us have long suspected: emotions are not a luxury, they are essential to rational thinking.

Descartes' Error takes the reader on an enthralling journey of scientific discovery, starting with the case of Phineas Gage--a construction foreman who in 1848 survived a freak accident in which a 3 1/2 foot iron rod passed through his head--and continuing on to Damasio's experiences with modern-day neurological patients affected by brain damage. Far from interfering with rationality, his research shows us, the absence of emotion and feeling can break down rationality and make wise decision making almost impossible.

Review: "A thought-provoking account" (New Scientist)

"Rich in provocative concepts about intelligence, memory, creativity and passion" (Los Angeles Times)

"idiosyncratic and engaging" (The Times)

"Damasio is a profound thinker and an elegant writer...Descartes' Error is a fascinating exploration of the biology of reason and its inseparable dependence on emotion" (Oliver Sacks)

"Crucial reading" (New York Times Book Review)

Bibliographic Details

Title: Descartes' Error: Emotion, Rea
Publisher: HarpPeren
Publication Date: 1995
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Very Good