Naturalism and the First-Person Perspective - Brossura

Baker, Lynne Rudder

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0199914745 ISBN 13: 9780199914746

Casa editrice: Oxford University Press, Usa, 2013

Riassunto

Science and its philosophical companion, Naturalism, represent reality in wholly nonpersonal terms. How, if at all, can a nonpersonal scheme accommodate the first-person perspective that we all enjoy? In this volume, Lynne Rudder Baker explores that question by considering both reductive and eliminative approaches to the first-person perspective. After finding both approaches wanting, she mounts an original constructive argument to show that a nonCartesian first-person perspective belongs in the basic inventory of what exists. That is, the world that contains us persons is irreducibly personal.

After arguing for the irreducibilty and ineliminability of the first-person perspective, Baker develops a theory of this perspective. The first-person perspective has two stages, rudimentary and robust. Human infants and nonhuman animals with consciousness and intentionality have rudimentary first-person perspectives. In learning a language, a person acquires a robust first-person perspective: the capacity to conceive of oneself as oneself, in the first person. By developing an account of personal identity, Baker argues that her theory is coherent, and she shows various ways in which first-person perspectives contribute to reality.

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Recensione:

Her [Baker's] book is characteristically thought provoking and provides us with a distinctive and, in many ways, attractive account of reality and our place in it. (Stephen Kearns, Oxford Journals Clippings: Analysis)

Bakers book is a fine defence of a view worth taking seriously. It is a delight to read and is peppered with interesting arguments throughout. Just as David Chalmers enjoined us two decades ago to take phenomenal consciousness seriously, Baker wisely advises us to face up to the problem of self-consciousness. (Jacob Berger, Mind)

As shown by Lynne Baker in her profound new book, scientific naturalism comes in different versions, depending on how its advocates respond to some crucial open issues...Baker sets a series of ambitious goals for her book. (Philosophical Review)

L'autore:

Lynne Rudder Baker is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Baker has written four books on metaphysics and the philosophy of mind, and has published many articles in philosophy journals such as The Journal of Philosophy, The Philosophical Review, Philosophical Studies, Noûs, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research and many more.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Oxford University Press, Usa
• Data di pubblicazione: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0199914745
• ISBN 13: 9780199914746
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 272