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

Lars-Gunnar Lundh

doi:10.17505/jpor.2026.29053

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

Authors

Lars-Gunnar Lundh Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1649-969X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17505/jpor.2026.29053

Keywords:

consciousness, cognition, mental models, anoesis, feeling, non-verbal expressions, music, embodiment, LeDoux

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?

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Published

2026-03-26

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): Journal for Person-Oriented Research

Section

Book reviews

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