Sebastian Rödl's Self-Consciousness and Objectivity is one of the most original and thought-provoking books in analytic philosophy for the last several years. An ambitious defence of absolute idealism, Rödl rejects the idea that we as thinking beings can position ourselves within a given, mind-independent reality, and instead advances the position that the very idea of an ‘objective reality’ coincides with the self-consciousness of thought.
In this outstanding collection, a roster of international contributors critically examine the significance of Rödl's arguments and develop them in new directions. Their contributions are organised into the following six sections:
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and naturalism
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and formal idealism
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and quietism
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and absolute idealism
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and the power of judgment
Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and the determinacy of the individual
The volume concludes with an extensive response by Sebastian Rödl to his critics. This book constitutes essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary debates at ther intersection of analytic philosophy and philosophical idealism.
Introduction Jesse M. Mulder Part 1: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and Naturalism 1. One Act of Mind Lucy O'Brien 2. How is Thinking Possible? Ram Neta 3. Rödl on Judgment, the First Person, and Perception Christopher Peacocke Part 2: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and Formal Idealism 4. Idealism, Absolute and Formal Stephen Engstrom 5. Idealism, Subjects and Science Patricia Kitcher Part 3: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and Quietism 6. Real Austerity Jocelyn Benoist 7. Knowledge, Persons, and the Fact of Reason Glenda Satne 8. The Possibility of Absolute Representations A.W. Moore 9. The Linguistic Turn Away from Absolute Idealism Irad Kimhi 10. Elective Affinities of a Guest from Elea J.M. van Ophuijsen Part 4: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and Absolute Idealism 11. Self-Knowledge and Knowledge of Nature, on the Speculative Character of Their Identity Thomas Khurana 12. Absolute Idealism, A Hegelian Critique of Sebastian Rödl’s Self-Consciousness and Objectivity Wolfram Gobsch Part 5: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and the Power of Judgment 13. The Explanation of Judgment Dawa Ometto 14. Not So Simple Powers Jesse M. Mulder 15. Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and Practical Knowledge Niels van Miltenburg Part 6: Self-Consciousness and Objectivity and the Determinacy of the Individual 16. Reflections on Self-Consciousness, and Self-Consciousness and Objectivity Adrian Haddock 17. Dotting the I Think Martijn Wallage Replies Sebastian Rödl. Index
James F. Conant is Chester D. Tripp Professor of Humanities, Professor of Philosophy, and Professor in the College at the University of Chicago. Jesse M. Mulder is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Sebastian Rödl is Professor of Philosophy in the Institute of Philosophy, Leipzig University, Germany.
