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What Are We?: A Study in Personal Ontology (Philosophy of Mind Series)

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Eric Olson has followed up his landmark book on the metaphysics of human nature (The Human Animal (1997)) with an insightful overview of all the main views argued by contemporary analytic metaphysicians. While so much philosophical literature over the past 30 years has focused on the question of 'personal identity,' Olson guides readers through the pros and cons of various arguments concerning the more neglected question of 'personal ontology.' As a metaphysician with an interest in both questions, but more so the latter, I found this book an informative, thorough read. What's more, having presented his own view ('animalism') in his 1997 book and various articles, Olson is able here to give a dispassionate analysis in which the weaknesses of animalism are presented along with those of constitutionalism (a favorite target of criticism from Olson in his many published exchanges w/ Lynne Baker) and the other alternatives. My only complaint in this regard is the short-shrift Olson gives to 'hylomorphism' -- my own preferred answer to the question of personal ontology -- allowing a confessed lack of understanding of the theory to preclude more serious engagement with it. Nevertheless, Olson has provided a clearly written and expansive work in contemporary analytic metaphysics that will be not only of interest to scholars -- both those invested in this debate and those who are new to it -- but also useful for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate philosophy course.