Isolated cases

Isolated cases

By Nancy Yousef

Book Description

In a world that celebrates individual achievement and self-reliance, Nancy Yousef reveals the hidden tensions that have shaped our understanding of personal autonomy since the Enlightenment. Isolated Cases examines how the very concept of the independent, self-defining individual emerged alongside deep-seated fears about human connection and our fundamental need for others.

Through careful analysis of influential thinkers and writers including John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Shelley, and William Wordsworth, Yousef uncovers a fascinating paradox. The philosophical and literary works that championed individual freedom simultaneously expressed profound anxieties about isolation and yearning for meaningful relationships with others.

This interdisciplinary exploration bridges philosophy, literature, and psychology to illuminate how our modern ideals of self-sufficiency mask complex questions about human interdependence. Yousef demonstrates that even as these Enlightenment and Romantic figures promoted individual autonomy, they grappled with fundamental concerns about whether true independence is possible or even desirable.

For readers interested in understanding the roots of contemporary struggles with isolation, authenticity, and connection, this scholarly work offers valuable insights into how our cultural emphasis on individualism developed alongside persistent doubts about its emotional and spiritual costs. Yousef's analysis reveals the enduring tension between our desire for independence and our deep need for community.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)

📄 Length: 253 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Romanticism
  • ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
  • ✓ Explore Vie intellectuelle
  • ✓ Explore Isolation (Philosophy)
  • ✓ Explore Modern Philosophy
  • ✓ Explore LITERARY CRITICISM
  • ✓ Explore European
  • ✓ Explore Angoisse dans la litterature

Topics Covered

Romanticism Philosophy, modern, 18th century Vie intellectuelle Isolation (Philosophy) Modern Philosophy LITERARY CRITICISM European Angoisse dans la litterature Romanticism, great britain Rousseau, jean-jacques, 1712-1778 French influences Letterkunde Enlightenment History and criticism Intellectual life Autonomy (psychology) English literature, history and criticism, 19th century English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Siecle des lumieres Philosophie dans la litterature Histoire et critique Philosophy, modern, 19th century Autonomy (Psychology) in literature Philosophie Anxiety in literature Art appreciation Appreciation Romantisme Philosophy in literature Influence Autonomie (Psychologie) dans la litterature Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.) Autonomy (Philosophy) Litterature anglaise Autonomie (algemeen) Autonomie (Philosophie) English literature Influence francʹaise

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