Models Of The Self [Paperback]

A comprehensive reader on the problem of the self as seen from the perspectives of philosophy, development psychology, robotics, cognitive neuroscience, psychopathology, semiotics, phenomenology and contemplative studies, all focused on a keynote paper.

In both its breadth and depth,Models of the Selfis outstanding testimony to the success of cognitive science in unravelling the conundrum of personhood.

A comprehensive reader on the problem of the self as seen from the perspectives of philosophy, development psychology, robotics, cognitive neuroscience, psychopathology, semiotics, phenomenology and contemplative studies, all focused on a keynote paper.

Gallagher and Shear have put together a fast paced yet savvy set of readings on the thorny problem of the self. It is a must read.

In the last few years there has been a phenomenal growth of interest in the problem of consciousness and many of the books on this topic that have been published suggest that the problem is about to be solved. This book on the self presents a refreshingly different view. The contributors come from many backgrounds, ranging from eastern mysticism to robotics, and include the neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran and the philosopher Mary Midgley. The book springs from an essay written by Galen Strawson concerned with the problem of whether the self exists. All the commentators have fascinating and strikingly different things to say abut the self, but there is no pretence that the problem is solved. As Galen Strawson says at the end, 'the result is a festival of misunderstanding, but misunderstanding is one of the great engines of progress'.

We cannot understand consciousness without tackling the selflc§