Personal Identity and Self-Consciousness (International Library of Philosophy) [Hardcover]

Brian Garrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0415165733 | ISBN-13: 978-0415165730 | Edition: annotated edition

Personal Identity and Self-Consciousness is about persons and personal identity. What are we? And why does personal identity matter? Brian Garrett, using jargon-free language, addresses questions in the metaphysics of personal identity, questions in value theory, and discusses questions about the first person singular. Brian Garrett makes an important contribution to the philosophy of personal identity and mind, and to epistemology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brian Garrett has written an intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking book, which significantly moves the debate along, and which should be read by students and by all philosophers interested in personal identity
.
–Paul Snowdon, Oxford University

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; annotated edition edition (May 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415165733
• ISBN-13: 978-0415165730
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Language comes out of mind, December 19, 1999

By 

Chess J Krawczyk - See all my reviews

This review is from: Personal Identity and Self-Consciousness (International Library of Philosophy) (Hardcover)

Unlike narratives that either travel a history of dead ideas or sycophants trying an exegesis of one or more authors; Garrett provides a summary discussion of the themes of personal identity (not consciousness) and the language use of the words. The thought experiments expand on the "brain in a vat" concept and are presented and argued compellingly. Check the table of contents as this book deliberately limits its scope and clearly states those limits. A summary work in philosophy is rare, so this is well worth adding to your library. While clear, it is heavy going since it assumes some familiarity with concepts from the philsophy of mind and philosophy of language. It is not about personality or "being" if that is your interest; nor does it treat psychology or neuroscience.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mind meets language philosophy, December 14, 1999

By 

Chess J Krawczyk - See all my reviews

This review is from: Personal Identity and Self-Consciousness (International Library of Philosophy) (Hardcover)

The Philosophy of Mind meets the Philosophy of Language. This is a well presented book, rare in that it summarises the concepts of the topic without presenting a history of dead, superceded ideas or sycophantically agreeing with named philosophers or arguing against particular disliked authors. The "mind in a vat" concept is expanded into various graduated versions; the presentation is well argued, unlike the narrative ramblings of many contemporaries. It is clear and convincing due to Garrett's style. The scope is well defined but could have been extended, so check carefully what you expect in the introduction. Useful to graduates and advanced readers, may be useful to beginners.