Front cover image for On desire : why we want what we want

On desire : why we want what we want

Desires often come to us unbidden and unwanted, and they can have a dramatic impact, sometimes changing the course of our lives. Philosopher Irvine takes us on a wide-ranging tour of our impulses, wants, and needs, showing us where these feelings come from and how we can try to rein them in. Irvine considers the teachings of religion as well as ancient and modern philosophers, looks at what modern science can tell us about desire--what happens in the brain when we desire something and how animals evolved particular desires--and advances a new theory about how desire itself evolved. Brimming with wisdom and practical advice, On Desire offers a thoughtful approach to controlling unwanted passions and attaining a more meaningful life.--From publisher description
eBook, English, 2006
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006
1 online resource (x, 322 pages)
9780195345971, 9780195188622, 9780195327076, 9781280845918, 9781429438087, 0195345975, 0195188624, 0195327071, 1280845910, 1429438088
79819619
The ebb and flow of desire
Other people
Mapping our desires
The wellsprings of desire
The psychology of desire
The evolution of desire
The biological incentive system
The human condition
Religious advice
Religious advice continued : Protestant sects
Philosophical advice
The eccentrics
Conclusions
English