[179] Self-Knowledge and Self Identity By Sydney Shoemaker

Ai generated & human edited. Introduction and summary of "Self-Knowledge and Self Identity" By Sydney Shoemaker 1963

Sydney Shoemaker's 1963 book, Self-Knowledge and Self-Identity, investigates the philosophical concepts of how we know ourselves and what constitutes our individual identity. The text critically examines various historical and contemporary theories regarding the self, including those positing a substantial ego, a bundle of perceptions, and the importance of memory and the body. Shoemaker analyzes the nature of first-person statements, particularly those concerning psychological states and past experiences, questioning whether self-knowledge relies on criteria in the same way as knowledge of external objects. He explores thought experiments involving bodily transfer and considers the relationship between personal identity and bodily continuity. Ultimately, the work aims to clarify the logical foundations of our understanding of self and identity.