The Self?

Many of us experience ourselves as having or being a ′self′, even though we may not be clear what that is. The philosophical papers in this volume reflect on key questions about the self, such as: Does the self exist? If so, what is its nature? Is it a single thing, or could there be a succession of selves? Could our sense of a single continuous self be an illusion? What are the ethical implications of selfhood? And what is the relation between self–expression and self–control? The papers are written by leading authorities in the field: Barry Dainton, Ingmar Persson, Marya Schechtman, Bas van Fraassen, Peter van Inwagen, and the volume editor, Galen Strawson.

Introduction. 1. The Self and the Phenomenal: Barry Dainton. 2. Self–Doubt: Why We are not Identical to Things of Any Kind: Ingmar Persson. 3. Self–Expression and Self–Control: Marya Schechtman. 4. Against Narrativity: Galen Strawson. 5. Transcedence of the Ego (The Non–Existent Knight): Bas C. Van Fraassen. 6. The Self: The Incredulous Stare Articulated: Peter Van Inwagen. Index.

Galen Strawson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Reading and the City University of New York Graduate Center. He is the author of Freedom and Belief (1986), The Secret Connexion (1989) and Mental Reality (1994).

"This is a well–edited, concise collection [on] the metaphysics of selfhood.... Strawson does a fine editorial job in his comprehensive introduction to the papers." ( Metapsychology )