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The Unconscious Civilization

The Unconscious Civilization

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Governor General's Award Winner Tenth Anniversary Edition, with a new preface

Our society, John Ralston Saul argues in his 1995 CBC Massey Lectures, is only superficially based on the individual and democracy. Increasingly it is conformist and corporatist, a society in which legitimacy lies with specialist or interest groups and decisions are made through constant negotiations between these groups.

The paradox of our situation is that knowledge has not made us conscious. Instead, we have sought refuge in a world of illusion where language is cut off from reality. Reconnecting language to reality, clarifying what we mean by individualism and democracy, making these realities central to the citizen's life, identifying ideologies in order to control them, these are among the first elements of equilibrium which Saul proposes in these lectures.

Details of Book

ISBN13: 9780140264647
ISBN10: 0140264647
Language: English
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publication Year: 1997
Format: Paperback

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A note on book covers: while we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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  • One Line Summary

    Explores societal illusions and the need for genuine democracy.

  • Who is this book for?

    This book offers a compelling critique of modern society’s superficial values and the disconnect between language and reality. If you're interested in understanding how societal structures shape our perceptions and how we might reconnect with authentic individualism and democracy, this book could really resonate with you. It challenges readers to think deeply about the foundations of our social and political worlds.

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