The Essence of the Self

In Defense of the Simple View of Personal Identity

Geoffrey Madell

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English

Routledge
12 February 2018

Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy of mind; Social, group or collective psychology; Cognition & cognitive psychology

Series: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy

"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."

By: Geoffrey Madell
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781138498938
ISBN 10: 1138498939
Series: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy
Pages: 154
Publication Date: 12 February 2018
Audience: College/higher education , Primary , A / AS level
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Geoffrey Madell was Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and is the author of The Identity of the Self (1981), Mind and Materialism (1988) and Philosophy, Music and Emotion (2002).

Reviews for The Essence of the Self: In Defense of the Simple View of Personal Identity

Madell argues with admirable ambition and tenacity... [The Essence of the Self] constitutes a rewarding read. - Daniel Giberman, University of Gothenburg, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Madell's focus centers on making sense of both the objective characteristics of lived experiences and the narrowly personal experience of individual existence. His treatment of this issue is situated within the rich literature on the topic, which provides a valuable backdrop for readers. Summing Up: Recommended. - A. P. Schwab, Indiana University--Purdue University Fort Wayne in CHOICE