The Mystery of Consciousness: A Prescription for Human Survival

Appalled at modern society's moral apathy, individualistic materialism, mechanistic tempo and tremendous destructive potential, Anshen (The Anatomy of Evil) prescribes a ``collective philosophy'' to counter personal isolation, laissez-faire attitudes and monopolization of the earth's resources by the wealthy few. She calls for a social democracy built on cooperative action and equalizing justice, linked to a world government that would take steps to systematically reduce the causes of war and enforce international laws. Although Anshen embraces reason as a bulwark against rampant individualism, she maintains that science is reductionist, cannot shed light on human consciousness, meaning or values, and should abandon its pose of pontifical authority. This inspirational manifesto reveals Anshen as an original thinker in the grand tradition, dealing with fundamental questions of life, morality, religion, politics, eros, work, death, and seeking out their interconnections. (Oct.)