The Essence of the Self
In Defense of the Simple View of Personal Identity
By Geoffrey Madell | Publisher: Taylor and Francis
About the book
In this volume, Geoffrey Madell develops a revised account of the self, making a compelling case for why the \"simple\" or \"anti-criterial\" view of personal identity warrants a robust defense. Madell critiques recent discussions of the self for focusing on features which are common to all selves, and which therefore fail to capture the uniqueness of each self. In establishing his own view of personal identity, Madell proposes (a) that there is always a gap between ‘A is f and g’ and ‘I am f and g’; (b), that a complete description of the world offered without recourse to indexicals will fail to account for the contingent truth that I am one of the persons described; and (c), that an account of conscious perspectives on the world must take into account what it means for an apparently arbitrary one of these perspectives to be mine. Engaging with contemporary positions on the first person, embodiment, psychological continuity, and other ongoing arguments, Madell contends that there can be no such thing as a criterion of personal identity through time, that no bodily or psychological continuity approach to the issue can succeed, and that personal identity through time must be absolute, not a matter of degree. Madell’s view that the nature of the self is substantively different from that of objects in the world will generate significant discussion and debate among philosophers of mind.
Editions of The Essence of the Self
- EBook
- ISBN 9781317584131
- PDF
- ISBN 9781317584148
Read an Excerpt
In this volume, Geoffrey Madell develops a revised account of the self, making a compelling case for why the \"simple\" or \"anti-criterial\" view of personal identity warrants a robust defense. Madell critiques recent discussions of the self for focusing on features which are common to all selves, and which therefore fail to capture the uniqueness of each self. In establishing his own view of personal identity, Madell proposes (a) that there is always a gap between ‘A is f and g’ and ‘I am f and g’; (b), that a complete description of the world offered without recourse to indexicals will fail to account for the contingent truth that I am one of the persons described; and (c), that an account of conscious perspectives on the world must take into account what it means for an apparently arbitrary one of these perspectives to be mine. Engaging with contemporary positions on the first person, embodiment, psychological continuity, and other ongoing arguments, Madell contends that there can be no such thing as a criterion of personal identity through time, that no bodily or psychological continuity approach to the issue can succeed, and that personal identity through time must be absolute, not a matter of degree. Madell’s view that the nature of the self is substantively different from that of objects in the world will generate significant discussion and debate among philosophers of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Essence of the Self about?
In this volume, Geoffrey Madell develops a revised account of the self, making a compelling case for why the \"simple\" or \"anti-criterial\" view of personal identity warrants a robust defense. Madell critiques recent discussions of the self for focusing on features which are common to all selves, and which therefore fail to capture the uniqueness of each self. In establishing his own view of personal identity, Madell proposes (a) that there is always a gap between ‘A is f and g’ and ‘I am f and g’; (b), that a complete description of the world offered without recourse to indexicals will fail to account for the contingent truth that I am one of the persons described; and (c), that an account of conscious perspectives on the world must take into account what it means for an apparently arbitrary one of these perspectives to be mine. Engaging with contemporary positions on the first person, embodiment, psychological continuity, and other ongoing arguments, Madell contends that there can be no such thing as a criterion of personal identity through time, that no bodily or psychological continuity approach to the issue can succeed, and that personal identity through time must be absolute, not a matter of degree. Madell’s view that the nature of the self is substantively different from that of objects in the world will generate significant discussion and debate among philosophers of mind.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Essence of the Self?
Philosophy and Religion > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Philosophy of mind
Where can I read a sample of The Essence of the Self?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317584131
Is The Essence of the Self part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Essence of the Self?
Geoffrey Madell
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Essence of the Self is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317584131) and pdf(ISBN 9781317584148)