Solitude: A Philosophical EncounterThe author identifies five intrinsic virtues of solitude: Freedom of Action; Attunement to Self; Attunement to Nature; Reflective Perspective; and Creativity. The common objections to solitude - that it is empty, pointless, vain, foolish, lonely, dangerous, unnatural, morbid, self-indulgent, selfish, escapist, evasive of social responsibility, irrelevant for post-modern women, and culturally limited to alienated privilege in late stages of capitalism - are each given their say and then critically dismantled. Professor Koch's discussion includes an overview of historical restrictions on solitude for women, as well as contemporary women's writings on solitude, and a detailed study of the role of solitude in the classics of ancient Taoism. |
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Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE NATURE OF SOLITUDE | 5 |
Loneliness Isolation Privacy Alienation | 29 |
Disengagement 4 Engaged Disengagement | 57 |
The Symmetry of Engagement and Disengagement | 81 |
Images of Solitude | 93 |
EVALUATING SOLITUDE | 97 |
The Virtues of Solitude | 99 |
Arguments from Experience | 181 |
Some History | 201 |
Responses | 219 |
Women and Solitude | 253 |
A Universal Value? 219 249 | 275 |
EPILOGUE | 299 |
NOTES | 301 |
VERY SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY | 363 |
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Common terms and phrases
actually alienation aloneness appears argue argument awareness becomes begin better body called century certainly chapter Cited claims complete concern connection consciousness consider contemplation course death desire developed direct discussion disengagement distinct emotion encounter engagement example existence experience expression eyes fact fear feeling felt finally freedom give hand human Ibid idea important individual inner insisted interesting involves isolation journal kind lines living loneliness lonely look meaning mind moral nature never objects observation one's pain perhaps person philosophical possible presence Press question Quoted reference reflection relations remarks seems sense separate silence social society solitary solitude sometimes soul things Thoreau thought true understand University University Press virtues whole wilderness women writing York
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Solitude: A Philosophical Encounter |
| Author | Philip Koch |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Open Court Publishing, 1994 |
| ISBN | 0812692438, 9780812692433 |
| Length | 375 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / Mind & Body |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |