A Philosopher's Journey

Neal is a retired philosopher who originally studied quantum physics before obtaining his PhD in history and philosophy of science. He did not share the materialistic perspective of his colleagues and is the author of The Spirit of Spinoza and the equally long Conversations with Socrates and Plato, subtitled ‘how a post-materialist social order can solve the challenges in modern life and ensure our survival. Neal has a commitment to mystical philosophy, and the format of this new book is a series of 87 informally conversational dialogues, involving Plato, Socrates, Benedict Spinoza, and William James. These characters, in addition to Neal himself, provide different voices and perspectives in covering a multitude of universal themes and philosophical issues informed by idealism and the depth of human experience, including the ontological, spiritual and ethical centrality of Love. As Jeff Dunne writes in his endorsement, Neal ‘has a tremendous gift for taking deep, complex, and life changing philosophical concepts and making them not only accessible to read, but enjoyable to explore.’