Losing Ourselves

In 'Losing Ourselves,' Jay L. Garfield presents a radical argument against the Western notion of selfhood, drawing on Indian and East Asian Buddhism, Daoism, Western philosophy, and cognitive neuroscience.

He contends that believing in a self leads to moral egoism and undermines ethics, while understanding ourselves as selfless persons can facilitate more ethical and moral lives.

The book emphasizes the practical benefits of the Buddhist idea of no-self, including abandoning egoism, acting more morally and ethically, and navigating life more skillfully.

Garfield argues that our sense of self is an illusion and that recognizing ourselves as interdependent persons can lead to greater contentment and compassion for others.