Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self by Marilynne Robinson

Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self by Marilynne Robinson is an engaging and thought-provoking examination of what has been replaced by our culture’s dependence on the constructs of modern science. Robinson argues that our culture has, through its reliance on the scientific method, all but replaced a traditional notion of self-awareness with the “myth of the self” and the idea of “externalism.” In Absence of Mind, Robinson both challenges and enhances our conception of the modern self, offering readers an insightful look into the spiritual and intellectual threads of identity.

Robinson begins her argument by discussing the philosophical implications of modern science’s reductionist methodology and its “internal logic” which has led to the idea of our lives being reducible simply to “manifest atoms” and processes. In contrast to this, Robinson argues that what remains unacknowledged but subtly understood in our culture is an immense feeling or sensation of inward and private self-reflection, of “consciousness and privacy.” This private and intimate reflection does not lend itself to the reductionism of modern science and yet, through its valuable insight, offers us a great deal of knowledge about ourselves and our relationship with the external world.

By applying a philosophical critique to many of the assumptions and beliefs underlying the current scientific view of our lives, Robinson offers a deep and rigorous argument in which she attempts to disprove the notion that our lives can be wholly known and understood through scientific observation and measures. She asserts that “self-understanding” as a process, while primarily a science-oriented one, also has strong philosophical, spiritual and aesthetic components. The self, Robinson argues, is a complex synthesis of inner and outer elements, of physicality and emotion, of thought and feeling, of our material and metaphysical selves. In other words, both outward and inward aspects are necessary for us to fully understand ourselves and the world around us.

In the latter portion of the book, Robinson turns her attention to larger issues of moral agency and the claim that an exclusively scientific view of the world has led to a kind of objectification of humans and dehumanization of some of the complexities of life. Moreover, she argues that this materialistic worldview fails to account for the value of spiritual and religious thought as a part of a deeper understanding of our selves. In Robinson’s view, a reductionist view of human life has led to a kind of “absence of mind” in our culture which disparages its worth and precludes a notion of meaningful agency.

Robinson’s book is a compelling contribution to the philosophical debate around modern conceptions of self and identity. It offers an engaging journey through the complex landscape of thought which engages a range of topics including philosophy, science, ethics, and spirituality. By taking a stand against the “myth of the self” and the ideological consequences of internalism, Robinson’s thought-provoking work is sure to generate further debate. Through her argument, Robinson draws our attention to a plain but necessary truth: that to clearly understand ourselves and our relationship with the world, we must remain open to the inward and outward aspects of our lives.