Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality
Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality by Alan W. Watts, published by New World Library in 2007, explores the intricate relationship between humanity and the environment. This 2nd edition, comprising 129 pages, delves into Watts’ perspective on how modern society often confuses symbols with reality, prioritizing monetary value over true wealth. He critiques the contemporary focus on numbers and technology, arguing that this mindset leads to a disconnection from nature and an ignorance of our dependence on the natural world.
In this thought-provoking work, Watts addresses pressing issues related to economics, technology, and sustainable development. He emphasizes the dangers of viewing the external world as a collection of separate objects, warning that such a perspective can result in humanity harming its own habitat. By examining the implications of our materialistic tendencies, the book invites readers to reconsider their relationship with nature and the environment. This edition serves as a timely reflection on the challenges we face today, making it relevant for those interested in philosophy, environmental conservation, and the intersection of human existence with the natural world.
Official synopsis Publisher
Does It Matter? presents Alan Watts’ thoughts on the problem of humankind’s relationship to its environment. Here he argues that contemporary people confuse symbols with reality, preferring money to wealth and “eating the menu instead of the dinner.” Focusing on numbers, concepts, and technology, he says, makes us increasingly unconscious of nature and of our total dependence on air, water, plants, animals, insects, and bacteria. We have hallucinated the notion that the “external” world is a cluster of “objects” separate from ourselves, that we “encounter” it rather than come out of it. Consequently, he claims, humanity is fouling its own nest and is in imminent danger of self-obliteration. In one of his most provocative books, a philosopher known for his writings and teachings about mysticism and Eastern philosophy confronts the nitty-gritty problems of economics, technology, clothing, cooking, housing, and the rest of the world around us. First published in 1971, the book is especially timely today.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality” about?
Who is the author of “Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality”?
When was “Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality” published?
What is the ISBN for “Does It Matter? Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
