Customer Reviews

Self-Knowledge and the Self

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Jopling does an admirable job of tackling the philosophy (and, to a certain extent, the psychology) of self-knowledge. The book's introduction lays out the general scope of his arguments and background, both of which are quite diverse. Jopling draws on many sources of inspiration but mainly focuses on some of the more recent works in this area. More telling is the section in the Introduction titled "Four Philosophical Psychologies" - finally, a philosopher similar to Faber ("Objectivity and Human Perception: Revisions and Crossroads in Psychoanalysis and Philosophy") who is unafraid to confront the nexus of thought and being.

He first looks at different approaches to the self and how the different modes of self-inquiry lead to some problems. Then he leads into a discussion on self-detachment and self-knowledge including transparency and reflective detachment borrowed from Hampshire's work. Jopling includes some excellent references to psychology while also developing the philosophical overview.

Jopling then moves to the grittier questions of being versus identity. His discussion of Sartre's work, particularly the contrast with previous philosophers is very informative and interesting. Then Jopling moves to the post-modern view epitomized by Rorty. The problems associated with the infinite spiral of narratives is laid bare.

Jopling's final chapter focuses on dialogic self-knowing. Interestingly enough, Jopling uses Margaret Laurence's "The Stone Angel" to draw in the threads of self-knowledge theory and psychology. I enjoyed the use of literature to illustrate the fact that self-knowledge "takes the form of injunction, attestation, and avowal".

An excellent companion to Faber's work.