The Situated Self [Hardcover]

J. T. Ismael's monograph is an ambitious contribution to metaphysics and the philosophy of language and mind. She tackles a philosophical question whose origin goes back to Descartes: What am I? The self is not a mere thing among things--but if so, what is it, and what is its relationship to the world? Ismael is an original and creative thinker who tries to understand our problematic concepts about the self and how they are related to our use of language in particular.

...an exciting read because it is a fresh and vivid challenge to dualist and physicalist views about themind, language, and theself.... Ismael's book is not just another philosophy book--it is feminist scientific theory in the making about mind and language.... Dynamic, thought provoking, and innovative is the only way to describe J. T. Ismael'sThe Situated Self. It is a definite must read for those wanting to get their heads into a serious scientific theory driven work in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language. --Feminism and Philosophy

How do human selves find their way into the natural order? The answer, Ismael argues, lies in a delicate (perhaps uniquely human) balancing act between emergent organization and directed, self-model involving control. Steering confidently between the ant colony and the inner theatre, Ismael leads the reader on a compelling journey to the very heart of the mind and self. Philosophically incisive, scientifically astute, endlessly challenging and deeply engaging, this is a must for anyone who cares about who they are, and how they came to be. --Andy Clark, Edinburgh University

This is a brilliant study of fundamental issues by a leading philosopher of her generation: clear, deep, and illuminating. --John Perry, Stanford University

The Situated Selfis genuinely elegant and philosophically deep. It exhibits a finely-tuned sense for where the hardest and most important probllók