48 pages • 1 hour read
Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain
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Book Brief
336
Book • Nonfiction
1990s
1994
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Descartes’ Error by António R. Damásio examines the intertwined roles of emotion and reason in human decision-making, challenging the Cartesian mind-body duality. Through the analysis of patients with prefrontal cortex damage, including the famous case of Phineas Gage, Damasio develops his "somatic-marker hypothesis," positing that emotions are crucial for rational thinking and survival.
Informative
Contemplative
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
António R. Damásio's Descartes' Error receives praise for its groundbreaking exploration of the interplay between emotion and reason in human cognition. Reviewers commend its accessible writing and profound implications for understanding the mind. Some critics, however, find the arguments occasionally repetitive and the scientific explanations overly simplified. Overall, a thought-provoking and influential work.
Who Should Read Descartes' Error?
Readers fascinated by the integration of neuroscience with philosophy will find António R. Damásio's Descartes' Error compelling. Those who enjoyed Oliver Sacks' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow will appreciate this exploration of the mind-body connection and emotional reasoning.
10,113 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage
A railroad construction supervisor whose personality changed dramatically after a brain injury, serving as an early example for theories of cerebral localization and the interconnectedness of the brain and emotions.
Elliot
Elliot
An anonymous patient with a brain tumor whose personality altered post-surgery, exemplifying the impact of emotional impairment on decision-making and the challenges of invisible illnesses.
336
Book • Nonfiction
1990s
1994
Adult
18+ years
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