Chapter 7 and Afterword Summary and Analysis

The quote at the head of chapter seven is from William James, which suggests that after all the scientific analysis of the present day, future generations will be able to look at nature in a "higher and simpler" way.

In this chapter, written in a much more academically-oriented style and tone than the other chapters, the author describes the initiation of his investigations into, and commentary on, experiences similar to his - a patient's loss of relationship with/awareness of a traumatically injured limb. He writes of being encouraged in his investigations by Dr. Luria, of his surprise at just how many contemporary patients had had similar experiences, and of his even greater surprise at discovering commentary on/analysis of the project in writings of as long as two hundred years before. This leads him to a...