陈嘉映｜焉知你我不在另一场大梦中：书评六则

Group 1 - The book "The Continental Divide: Heidegger and Cassirer at Davos" by Peter Gordon examines the philosophical debate between Heidegger and Cassirer, highlighting its significance in 20th-century philosophy and the layers of meaning surrounding it [3] - The author contextualizes the philosophical ideas of Heidegger and Cassirer within the broader intellectual and social background of their time, avoiding a reductionist view of philosophy as merely a reflection of contemporary thought [3] - The book effectively restates the core arguments of both philosophers, making the complex debate more accessible to general readers, focusing on Heidegger's emphasis on the sensory aspects of human existence versus Cassirer's focus on rationality [4] Group 2 - The book "Kangxi's Red Ticket: The Qing Dynasty in Globalization" by Sun Litian narrates the interactions between Emperor Kangxi and Western missionaries, emphasizing the significant impact of these exchanges on Chinese knowledge and technology [6][7] - The author praises Kangxi for his openness and wisdom, contrasting the more rigid and xenophobic attitudes that emerged in later periods of Chinese history, suggesting a broader cultural openness during Kangxi's reign [7] - The book critiques the oversimplified narrative of East-West cultural conflict, instead highlighting specific historical reasons behind events such as the prohibition of Christian missions during the Yongzheng era [7] Group 3 - "An Introduction to Bernard Williams" by Mark P. Jenkins provides insights into the complex philosophical contributions of Bernard Williams, particularly his distinction between internal and external reasons in ethics [11] - The book serves as a guide for readers to better understand Williams' ideas by referencing critiques and discussions from contemporary philosophers, although it does not delve deeply into unresolved issues [11] Group 4 - "A Brief History of Intelligence" by Max Bennett explores the evolution of biological intelligence in comparison to artificial intelligence, discussing the unique characteristics and development of neural systems in animals [14][15] - The author highlights the differences between biological and artificial intelligence, providing examples of how neuroscience and AI research inform each other [15] Group 5 - "Why We Dream: The New Science of Dreaming" by Antonio Zadra and Robert Stickgold presents a new theory on dreaming, suggesting that dreams help the brain explore weak associations between memories that are overlooked during waking hours [18][19] - The book discusses various intriguing questions about dreams, such as gender differences in dreaming and the phenomenon of lucid dreaming, while providing a comprehensive overview of recent dream research [19] Group 6 - "The Invention of Good and Evil: A Moral History of Humanity" by Hanno Schaal attempts to explain the emergence of morality and altruism, critiquing previous theories that fail to account for non-kin altruism [21][22] - The author proposes a theory of reciprocal altruism that emphasizes the importance of recognizing social signals and the role of punishment in maintaining cooperation within groups [22][23]