Description
### Book Description
Our species is often referred to as misnamed. While the term sapiens suggests “wise,” what truly distinguishes humanity is our unparalleled ability to forecast the future. We are, in fact, Homo Prospectus. In this insightful ebook, renowned authors Martin E. P. Seligman, Peter Railton, Roy F. Baumeister, and Chandra Sripada put forth a compelling argument: it is our capacity to envision and critically assess future possibilities that serves as the cornerstone of human achievement.
For much too long, the field of psychology has predominantly emphasized a framework where human behavior is primarily propelled by past experiences (memory) and immediate circumstances (perception and motivation). In contrast, Homo Prospectus (PDF) reexamines this perspective, shifting the spotlight firmly toward the future and heralding the emergence of a groundbreaking new discipline within Psychology and Neuroscience.
The authors delve deep into the intricate workings of prospection, exploring four key modes: the implicit mind, deliberate thought, mind-wandering, and collective (social) imagination. They pose fundamental questions surrounding prospection’s integral role in addressing some of life’s most profound inquiries: Why do individuals find themselves contemplating the future? What truly underlies our intuition, and how does it intersect with our ethical considerations? Are we genuinely endowed with free will? How do emotions influence human psychology? Is there a shift in our creative capacities as we age? Furthermore, could there be a shared causal mechanism underlying various psychopathologies?
In this remarkable synthesis of research across philosophy, statistics, decision theory, psychology, and neuroscience, Homo Prospectus fundamentally reshapes our understanding of critical cognitive processes, ultimately enhancing both individual and societal functionality. This ebook seeks to ignite interest in this innovative field of study among scholars in psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience, as well as to engage a broader audience eager to uncover the unique traits that define humanity.
Reviews
“An important insight about how the mind works, presented with fascinating discoveries and an engaging interdisciplinary approach.” — Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, and author of The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works
“The chapters cover a vast array of psychological, philosophical, and neuroscientific issues related to prospection. Each chapter is brimming with insightful observations that substantiate the case for prospection as a significant psychological phenomenon. This volume stands as a major contribution to the discipline of psychological science.” — PsycCRITIQUES
“Homo Prospectus is a groundbreaking ebook that leverages cutting-edge 21st-century fMRI research and accessible philosophical insights to instigate a paradigm shift in the field. This work may very well become the most influential psychological textbook since Skinner’s Science and Human Behavior. The idea of prospection presented in Homo Prospectus—that we are drawn into the future rather than, as both Freud and Skinner suggested, driven by the past—represents a true revolution not only for academics and practitioners but also for the everyday reader.” — George E. Vaillant, MD, Author of Triumphs of Experience
“One of the greatest intellectual joys is discovering an insight that resonates deeply and feels familiar yet was never articulated until now. Homo Prospectus delivers this experience beautifully. The authors are distinguished philosophers and psychologists who write elegantly, convincingly demonstrating that rapid intuitive thinking is, in reality, nuanced, intricate, and well-reasoned, with applications ranging from morality to successful aging.” — Phoebe Ellsworth, Ph.D., Frank Murphy Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Law, University of Michigan Law School
NOTE: This product includes the ebook, Homo Prospectus in PDF format. No access codes are provided.
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