Ton Lemaire is an anthropologist and philosopher. Early in his career he published the bestseller Filosofie van het landschap (Philosophy of the Landscape, 1970) followed by, among others, Over de waarde van culturen (On the Value of Cultures, 1976), De indiaan in ons bewustzijn (The Indian in Our Consciousness, 1986), Binnenwegen (Back Roads, 1988), Godenspijs of duivelsbrood (Food of the Gods or the Bread of the Devil, 1995) and Wandelenderwijs (Walk Wise, 1997).
(Ambo Anthos, 2002, 359 pages)
The primary concern of philosopher and cultural anthropologist Ton Lemaire is the rehabilitation of the senses. With Open Senses, which forms the synthesis of Lemaire’s extensive philosophic oeuvre, places not only the ecological debate but also the question of our culture’s future in a new and broader perspective.
(Ambo Anthos, 2007, 428 pages)
In On Wings of the Soul anthropologist and philosopher Ton Lemaire goes in search of ‘the broad eloquence of nature’, guided by birds, the creatures that have grown, as no other animal could, into symbols of the human soul. He paints a panorama of all that birds have signified in different cultures. Not confining himself to cultural anthropology, he looks at literature, music, fine art, philosophy and even politics. From Europe he also makes regular excursions to America, Asia and Africa.
(Ambo Anthos, 2010, 375 pages)
In The Fall of Prometheus Ton Lemaire explores the negative consequences of our irrational faith in the future, beginning with the depletion of natural resources, climate change and other environmental crises, before going on to examine the chronic dissatisfaction and emptiness typical of so many lives in the world’s most prosperous countries. People seek happiness in consumerism and hedonism, and are increasingly miserable as a result.
