The Soul of the Marionette

byJohn Gray

A Short Enquiry into Human Freedom

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In The Soul of the Marionette, John Gray draws together the religious, philosophic and fantastical traditions that question the very idea of human freedom. We flatter ourselves about the nature of free will and yet the most enormous forces - biological, physical, metaphysical - constrain our every action. Many writers and intellectuals have always understood this, but instead of embracing our condition we battle against it, with everyone from world conquerors to modern scientists dreaming of a 'human dominion' almost comically at odds with our true state.

This is a stimulating and enraging meditation on everything from cybernetics to the fairground marionettes of the title.

A generous and energising tumble of ideas...he is inventive and penetrating

Galen Strawson, Financial Times

About John Gray

John Gray is a political philosopher, whose books include Seven Types of Atheism, Straw Dogs, Black Mass, The Soul of the Marionette, The Silence of Animals and Feline Philosophy. He now principally writes for the New Statesman.
Details
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • ISBN: 9780141969015
  • Length: 192 pages
  • Price: £5.99
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