Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Book review: “The Four Realms of Existence. A New Theory of Being Human” by Joseph LeDoux

Lundh, Lars-Gunnar LU (2026) In Journal for Person-Oriented Research 12(1). p.70-78
Abstract
In The Four Realms of Existence: A New Theory of Being Human, Joseph LeDoux (2023) argues for a conceptualization of being human in terms of four hierarchically integrated realms of existence: biological, neurobiological, cognitive, and conscious. Although LeDoux’s perspective is thought-provoking, it also raises several questions. One question is how to differentiate the conscious realm from the cogni-tive realm. Another question is where feelings and non-verbal expressions fit into LeDoux’s picture. An overarching question is also: why four realms of existence?
Abstract (Swedish)
In The Four Realms of Existence: A New Theory of Being Human, Joseph LeDoux (2023) argues for a conceptualization of being human in terms of four hierarchically integrated realms of existence: biological, neurobiological, cognitive, and conscious. Although LeDoux’s perspective is thought-provoking, it also raises several questions. One question is how to differentiate the conscious realm from the cogni-tive realm. Another question is where feelings and non-verbal expressions fit into LeDoux’s picture. An overarching question is also: why four realms of existence?
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal for Person-Oriented Research
volume
12
issue
1
pages
70 - 78
publisher
Lundh Research Foundation
ISSN
2002-0244
DOI
10.17505/jpor.2026.29053
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e235ed17-1202-4bda-accd-25035f2cc034
date added to LUP
2026-03-26 18:11:52
date last changed
2026-04-01 17:41:04
@misc{e235ed17-1202-4bda-accd-25035f2cc034,
  abstract     = {{In The Four Realms of Existence: A New Theory of Being Human, Joseph LeDoux (2023) argues for a conceptualization of being human in terms of four hierarchically integrated realms of existence: biological, neurobiological, cognitive, and conscious. Although LeDoux’s perspective is thought-provoking, it also raises several questions. One question is how to differentiate the conscious realm from the cogni-tive realm. Another question is where feelings and non-verbal expressions fit into LeDoux’s picture. An overarching question is also: why four realms of existence?}},
  author       = {{Lundh, Lars-Gunnar}},
  issn         = {{2002-0244}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Review}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{70--78}},
  publisher    = {{Lundh Research Foundation}},
  series       = {{Journal for Person-Oriented Research}},
  title        = {{Book review: “The Four Realms of Existence. A New Theory of Being Human” by Joseph LeDoux}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.17505/jpor.2026.29053}},
  doi          = {{10.17505/jpor.2026.29053}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}