On Myself, and Other, Less Important Subjects

Caspar Hare, Mark Johnston

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English

Princeton University Press
13 October 2009

Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge

"Caspar Hare makes an original and compelling case for ""egocentric presentism,"" a view about the nature of first-person experience, about what happens when we see things from our own particular point of view. A natural thought about our first-person experience is that ""all and only the things of which I am aware are present to me."" Hare, however, goes one step further and claims, counterintuitively, that the thought should instead be that ""all and only the things of which I am aware are present."" There is, in other words, something unique about me and the things of which I am aware. On Myself and Other, Less Important Subjects represents a new take on an old view, known as solipsism, which maintains that people's experiences give them grounds for believing that they have a special, distinguished place in the world--for example, believing that only they exist or that other people do not have conscious minds like their own. Few contemporary thinkers have taken solipsism seriously.

But Hare maintains that the version of solipsism he argues for is in indeed defensible, and that it is uniquely capable of resolving some seemingly intractable philosophical problems--both in metaphysics and ethics--concerning personal identity over time, as well as the tension between self-interest and the greater good. This formidable and tightly argued defense of a seemingly absurd view is certain to provoke debate."

By: Caspar Hare
Introduction by: Mark Johnston
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 28g
ISBN: 9780691135311
ISBN 10: 0691135312
Pages: 136
Publication Date: 13 October 2009
Audience: College/higher education , Adult education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi Chapter 1: Self-Interest and Self-Importance 1 1.1 Confl icting Considerations 2 1.2 The Way Forward 8 Chapter 2: Time- Bias and the Metaphysics of Time 9 2.1 The Peacemaker's Response 14 Chapter 3: Egocentrism and Egocentric Metaphysics 19 3.1 Egocentric Presentism--an Introduction 21 3.2 Semantics for a Logic of Points of View 23 3.3 Egocentric Presentism and Points of View 27 3.4 Egocentric Presentism and Egocentric Considerations 30 3.5 Can We Resolve All Confl icts This Way? 37 Chapter 4: Clarifi cations 41 4.1 Ontological Commitments 41 4.2 Presence and Consciousness 42 4.3 Presence and Time 46 4.4 The Intelligibility of the Notion of Monadic Presence 50 4.5 Making Sense of What Other People Believe and Say 52 Chapter 5: A Problem about Personal Identity over Time 57 5.1 Judgments from the Outside and Inside 57 5.2 Making Sense of Our Judgments from the Outside and Inside 62 5.3 Error Theories 70 Chapter 6: The Solution 73 6.1 Judgments from the Inside Do Not Concern Personal Identity over Time 73 6.2 De Se Ignorance 76 6.3 The Solution 81 6.4 Dread, Existential and Anticipatory 86 Chapter 7: Skepticism and Humility 91 7.1 Skepticism 91 7.2 Humility 96 7.3 Wrapping Up 98 Notes 99 References 107 Index 111

Caspar John Hare is associate professor of philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Reviews for On Myself, and Other, Less Important Subjects

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2010 This short book raises all the big questions that drive much of modern philosophy--metaphysical questions regarding personal identity, solipsism, and self-consciousness; and normative questions concerning what one should value and how one should act. Written clearly, but technically, this often-illustrated volume not only will provoke debates on key issues in contemporary philosophy, but also offers well-defended solutions to those debates. --Choice

Runner-up for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2010.
Short-listed for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2010
Short-listed for CHOICE Magazine's Outstanding Academic Titles 2010 (United States)
Shortlisted for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2010.