and Mirror, Mirror: The Uses and Abuses of Self-Love (2014). Philosophy Mirror, Mirror: The Uses and Abuses of Self-Love Simon Blackburn From the author of Think, an enlightening and entertaining exploration of narcissism and self-esteem Hardcover Price: 24.95/20.00 ISBN: 9780691161426 Published: Copyright: 2014 Pages: 248 Size: 5.5 x 8.5 in. In teasing out nuances between valid and pathological vanity, pride, self-respect and self-love, he uncovers the mindset behind the Greed is good culture which has dominated for 30 years. But it also suggests that we have lost the ability to distinguish-let alone strike a balance-between good and bad forms of self-concern. In this lucid introduction to the topic, leading scholar Simon Blackburn describes the main. Ultimately, Mirror, Mirror shows why self-regard is a necessary and healthy part of life.

It considers today's 'me'-related obsessions, such as the 'selfie,' plastic surgery, and cosmetic enhancements, and reflects on connected phenomena such as the fatal commodification of social life and the tragic overconfidence of George W. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, literature, history, and popular culture, Blackburn offers an enlightening and entertaining exploration of self-love, from the myth of Narcissus and the Christian story of the Fall to today's self-esteem industry.Ī sparkling mixture of learning, humor, and style, Mirror, Mirror examines what great thinkers have said about self-love-from Aristotle, Cicero, and Erasmus to Rousseau, Adam Smith, Kant, and Iris Murdoch. But are narcissism and vanity really as bad as they seem? Can we avoid them even if we try? In Mirror, Mirror, Simon Blackburn, the author of such best-selling philosophy books as Think, Being Good, and Lust, says that narcissism, vanity, pride, and self-esteem are more complex than they first appear and have innumerable good and bad forms. The vain are by turns annoying or absurd, offending us whether they are blissfully oblivious or proudly aware of their behavior. From the author of Think, an enlightening and entertaining exploration of narcissism and self-esteemĮveryone deplores narcissism, especially in others.

Mirror, Mirror by Simon Blackburn