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Could the Left Hemisphere Succeed

Page history last edited by Jenny Mackness 3 years, 9 months ago

 

 

 

Could the left hemisphere succeed according to its own criteria?

 

Here McGilchrist explores the question of whether the left hemisphere’s greater capacity to control and manipulate the world can lead to greater happiness. McGilchrist believes that increases in material well-being, beyond our basic needs, have little to do with human happiness. The evidence shows that in most countries in the world, increase in prosperity does not lead to increased happiness. There is no relationship between happiness and economic growth.

 

Modern consumers everywhere are in a permanent state of unfulfilled desire. Research has also shown that happiness is best predicted by breadth and depth of social connections. Rates of depression in a given culture appear to be linked to the degree of stability and interconnectedness within the culture. Urbanisation, globalisation and the destruction of local culture has led to an increase in mental illness in the developing world. Physical health also suffers. 

 

‘Happiness and fulfilment are by-products of other things, of a focus elsewhere – not the narrow focus on getting and using, but a broader empathic attention’ (p.436).

 

 

 

The left hemisphere is a wonderful servant but a very poor master. Even the Enlightenment gave rise to much that is of enduring beauty and values, and the right hemisphere needs the left hemisphere to fulfil its potential, but the 

 

 left hemisphere is dependent on the right hemisphere both to ground its world, at the ‘bottom’ end, and to lead it back to life, at the ‘top’; but it appears to be in denial about this’ (p.437). 

 

Even in its own terms the left hemisphere is bound to fail, but this will not stop it from persisting in its current path.

 

 

The left hemisphere’s attempts to block our exit from its hall of mirrors

 

 

The left hemisphere is subject to paranoia about its three areas of weakness – the body, the soul and art (which relies on the body and soul coming together).

 

These areas are right hemisphere mediated and present a challenge to the left hemisphere.

 

 

 

 

Continue to: Conclusion: The Master Betrayed (3). The body

 


Links

 

Link to: Conclusion Commentary

 

Link to: Image Credits

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