The Phenomenal Self

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body, Health & Well Being, Psychology
Cover of the book The Phenomenal Self by Barry Dainton, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Barry Dainton ISBN: 9780191608759
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: March 13, 2008
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Barry Dainton
ISBN: 9780191608759
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: March 13, 2008
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Barry Dainton presents a fascinating new account of the self, the key to which is experiential or phenomenal continuity. Provided our mental life continues we can easily imagine ourselves surviving the most dramatic physical alterations, or even moving from one body to another. It was this fact that led John Locke to conclude that a credible account of our persistence conditions - an account which reflects how we actually conceive of ourselves - should be framed in terms of mental rather than material continuity. But mental continuity comes in different forms. Most of Locke's contemporary followers agree that our continued existence is secured by psychological continuity, which they take to be made up of memories, beliefs, intentions, personality traits, and the like. Dainton argues that that a better and more believable account can be framed in terms of the sort of continuity we find in our streams of consciousness from moment to moment. Why? Simply because provided this continuity is not lost - provided our streams of consciousness flow on - we can easily imagine ourselves surviving the most dramatic psychological alterations. Phenomenal continuity seems to provide a more reliable guide to our persistence than any form of continuity. The Phenomenal Self is a full-scale defence and elaboration of this premise. The first task is arriving at an adequate understanding of phenomenal unity and continuity. This achieved, Dainton turns to the most pressing problem facing any experience-based approach: losses of consciousness. How can we survive them? He shows how the problem can be solved in a satisfactory manner by construing ourselves as systems of experiential capacities. He then moves on to explore a range of further issues. How simple can a self be? How are we related to our bodies? Is our persistence an all-or-nothing affair? Do our minds consist of parts which could enjoy an independent existence? Is it metaphysically intelligible to construe ourselves as systems of capacities? The book concludes with a novel treatment of fission and fusion.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Barry Dainton presents a fascinating new account of the self, the key to which is experiential or phenomenal continuity. Provided our mental life continues we can easily imagine ourselves surviving the most dramatic physical alterations, or even moving from one body to another. It was this fact that led John Locke to conclude that a credible account of our persistence conditions - an account which reflects how we actually conceive of ourselves - should be framed in terms of mental rather than material continuity. But mental continuity comes in different forms. Most of Locke's contemporary followers agree that our continued existence is secured by psychological continuity, which they take to be made up of memories, beliefs, intentions, personality traits, and the like. Dainton argues that that a better and more believable account can be framed in terms of the sort of continuity we find in our streams of consciousness from moment to moment. Why? Simply because provided this continuity is not lost - provided our streams of consciousness flow on - we can easily imagine ourselves surviving the most dramatic psychological alterations. Phenomenal continuity seems to provide a more reliable guide to our persistence than any form of continuity. The Phenomenal Self is a full-scale defence and elaboration of this premise. The first task is arriving at an adequate understanding of phenomenal unity and continuity. This achieved, Dainton turns to the most pressing problem facing any experience-based approach: losses of consciousness. How can we survive them? He shows how the problem can be solved in a satisfactory manner by construing ourselves as systems of experiential capacities. He then moves on to explore a range of further issues. How simple can a self be? How are we related to our bodies? Is our persistence an all-or-nothing affair? Do our minds consist of parts which could enjoy an independent existence? Is it metaphysically intelligible to construe ourselves as systems of capacities? The book concludes with a novel treatment of fission and fusion.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book Cyrano de Bergerac by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Local and Regional Democracy in Europe by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The Dynamic Genome by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book Austin's Way with Skepticism by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Human Capital by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book Martin Luther: A Very Short Introduction by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Animals in Classical Thought and Life by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book A Practical Guide to Trade Mark Law by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book A World History of Ancient Political Thought by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book A Short Guide to Brain Imaging by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book Corruption and Misuse of Public Office by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book Friendship and its Discourses in the Seventeenth Century by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The World in the Head by Barry Dainton
Cover of the book The Aspern Papers and Other Stories by Barry Dainton
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy