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"Nobody else brings such an astonishing range of knowledge to bear on these issues."--Daniel Dennett
"Humphrey's distinctive prose is the golden bowl in which his ripe and shining theories are held."--Antonella Gambotto
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'How often have I said to you,' Sherlock Holmes observed to Dr Watson, 'that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?' Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Three of the essays are of significant import, requiring serious reflection on Humphrey's concepts. What level had human cognition reached when "cavemen" painted the walls of Chauvet? [actually, two essays address this topic] Was Jesus a conjurer? And, foremost in significance, "What Shall We Tell the Children?". The first question derives from the well-known case of the child Nadia who proved an artistic prodigy. She developed an outstanding ability to draw animals by the age of four. Her renditions of horses exceed the attempts of many adult sketchers. Humphrey argues that Nadia's minimal language skills offer a clue to how this talent developed. He suggests the animal drawings in French and Iberian caves suggest reconsideration of how and when human cognitive skills developed and whether
artistic skills preceded those of language.
In discussing Jesus' role in his own society, Humphrey suggests the Redeemer had grown up in a society that anticipated the emergence of a Messiah. In "Behold the Man," Humphrey addresses the social and psychological" roots leading to the myth of Jesus' divinity. He sees the Jesus myth as "setting the stage for all subsequent paranormal phenomena in Western culture . . . outside as well as inside a specifically religious context." It's a challenging task he's set himself, but Humphrey fulfills it with rational evidence. Of primary importance is the idea that "Jesus himself believed he was the real thing," allowing him to carry off the proposition that he enjoyed special powers. That confidence imparted the belief to those he encountered in every community but one, his own. Humphrey explains why that differential helps undermine the myth of divinity. Why wasn't Jesus acceptance universal?
In "What Shall We Tell the Children?", Humphrey suggests one of his most challenging ideas. How far should parents be allowed to go in forming a child's opinions and beliefs. He strongly urges that "false beliefs" must not be imposed on children if their rights as individuals are thereby curtailed. He argues that pre-emptive action in protecting children's rights is not an extreme action. His solution is universal education in science - not scientific dogmas, but the methods of observation, testing and critical thinking. No dogma ever withstands these tools in combination.
Three [four!] summaries hardly address the value of this collection. The remainder, some of which are surprisingly brief, are all a challenge to think along novel lines or reassess old ideas. Are we Stone Age people living in a Space Age or a Computer Age? Why is dictatorship attractive to many - even those living within one? What is the Mind/Body problem and is there an answer to it? What is altruism and how does it work in human society? How and why does a placebo work in curing illness? These and many other issues are addressed in this anthology, keeping the reader's constant attention. There are many challenges here, and no disappointments. Humphrey's insights are worth considering and his effective presentation makes this book a fine addition to anyone's library.
This book is fantastic journey in the world of workings of the mind and cognition. As said, the real pearls are in the other half of the book, but they are really worth waiting.
His astounding theory of the birth of the story of Jesus is alone a good reason to get this book and read it. His theory comes in the 16. chapter of the book called `Behold the Man'. It in Nicholas Humphrey gives a fully comprehensible and logical explanation to a situation where Jesus could be a con-man and simultaneously believe is his own magical powers and story of him being a son of God.
You story must read this story, if you are at least interested in these matters. This chapter begins as quite innocent overview of the research done in the field of paranormal phenomena until Nicholas Humphrey reveals the case study he plans to use to demonstrate people using belief in paranormal phenomena to their advantage, it is naturally "The Case of Jesus Christ".
This story is however not the only pearl in this magnificent book. The 12. chapter called "Cave Art, Autism, and the Evolution of the Human Mind" gives wonderful insights to a theory how the evolution of abstract thinking may have brought about losses in other departments.
The main characters in this chapter are the magnificent cave painters of the stone age and the 3-years old Nadia, who painted just like the cave painters, but could not master the conceptual thinking at all. This is must read to everybody who is at least interested in evolution of man.
A good read it also the 18. chapter of the book, which tells about the court cases against animals that were common in the Middle Ages. The 19. chapter is also very interesting as it deals with the placebo-effect and the spontaneous self-healing.
The final chapters of the book are real gems when psychologist Nicholas Humphrey tells how the religions misuse the trust of children and mold their minds into directions they want. Th 20. chapter called "What Shall We Tell the Children" is a moving appeal for the preservation of the intellectual integrity of the children.
Nicholas Humphrey is not a self-made quack, but a real scientist whose studies on the cognition and the development of thinking are still valued highly in the scientific world.
http://beinghuman.blogs.fi/2008/12/06/nicholas-humphrey-and-the-case-of-jesus-christ-5173372/
Three of the essays are of significant import, requiring serious reflection on Humphrey's concepts. What level had human cognition reached when "cavemen" painted the walls of Chauvet? [actually, two essays address this topic] Was Jesus a conjurer? And, foremost in significance, "What Shall We Tell the Children?". The first question derives from the well-known case of the child Nadia who proved an artistic prodigy. She developed an outstanding ability to draw animals by the age of four. Her renditions of horses exceed the attempts of many adult sketchers. Humphrey argues that Nadia's minimal language skills offer a clue to how this talent developed. He suggests the animal drawings in French and Iberian caves suggest reconsideration of how and when human cognitive skills developed and whether artistic skills preceded those of language.
In discussing Jesus' role in his own society, Humphrey suggests The Redeemer had grown up in a society that anticipated the emergence of a Messiah. In "Behold the Man," Humphrey addresses the social and psychological" roots leading to the myth of Jesus' divinity. He sees the Jesus myth as "setting the stage for all subsequent paranormal phenomena in Western culture . . . outside as well as inside a specifically religious context." It's a challenging task he's set himself, but Humphrey fulfills it with rational evidence. Of primary importance is the idea that "Jesus himself believed he was the real thing," allowing him to carry off the proposition that he enjoyed special powers. That confidence imparted the belief to those he encountered in every community but one, his own. Humphrey explains why that differential helps undermine the myth of divinity. Why wasn't Jesus acceptance universal?
In "What Shall We Tell the Children?", Humphrey suggests one of his most challenging ideas. How far should parents be allowed to go in forming a child's opinions and beliefs. He strongly urges that "false beliefs" must not be imposed on children if their rights as individuals are thereby curtailed. He argues that pre-emptive action in protecting children's rights is not an extreme action. His solution is universal education in science - not scientific dogmas, but the methods of observation, testing and critical thinking. No dogma ever withstands these tools in combination.
Three [four!] summaries hardly address the value of this collection. The remainder, some of which are surprisingly brief, are all a challenge to think along novel lines or reassess old ideas. Are we Stone Age people living in a Space Age or a Computer Age? Why is dictatorship attractive to many - even those living within one? What is the Mind/Body problem and is there an answer to it? What is altruism and how does it work in human society? How and why does a placebo work in curing illness? These and many other issues are addressed in this anthology, keeping the reader's constant attention. There are many challenges here, and no disappointments. Humphrey's insights are worth considering and his effective presentation makes this book a fine addition to anyone's library.
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