Maya: A Philosopher Considers the World as Illusion

by Joel Marks

“Philosophy begins in wonder. Philosophy begins in suffering.” So begins this exploration of the mystery of the universe and its implications for our lives. A central theme is that what we normally consider to be reality is an illusion. Our most fundamental beliefs are false – about God, morality, free will, the self, even the familiar features of everyday life. Quoting the book: “Not a single headline in the newspaper, not a single utterance about the most commonplace circumstance, not a single perception, not a single feeling is what it seems.” What then? The book’s conclusion is that a more clear-eyed view of the world, while not promising ultimate salvation from the tragedies and burdens of life, does have certain practical advantages for lessening them, and also offers the “philosophical consolation” that the universe is wondrous.

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

Joel Marks is a professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of New Haven and a scholar at the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics at Yale University. He is the regular ethics columnist for Philosophy Now magazine.