{"product_id":"selves-in-doubt-hardcover","title":"Selves in Doubt - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEli Hirsch\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eSelves in Doubt\u003c\/em\u003e, Eli Hirsch focuses on the importance of the first-person perspective to a normal human level of rational thought and behavior. Hirsch argues that an \"I-blind\" being--one who lacks the capacity to employ the first-person pronoun--could not be fully rational; nor could they acquire normal knowledge of physical reality. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe meaning of the first-person pronoun is shown to have a particular bearing on the anomalous context of split-brain patients and generalizations of that context. Hirsch critiques Parfit's suggestion that a better language might eliminate or revise the concept of personal identity and the use of the first-person pronoun, on the grounds that the first-person perspective must remain as it is because the capacity to employ the first-person pronoun is a necessary condition for a language to be suitable for rational beings. Hirsch also contends that, contrary to Lewis and Sider, it may be difficult to find any other necessary condition for a language to be suitable for rational beings. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA bold claim defended later in the book is that it is metaphysically impossible to be sane while doubting the reality of other selves. This claim leads to a discussion of skepticism, and the final chapter consists in reflections on how facing skepticism relates to facing death.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEli Hirsch \u003c\/strong\u003eis Professor of Philosophy at Brandeis University. He has published widely on metaphysics and epistemology. His books include \u003cem\u003eQuantifier Variance and Realism\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eRadical Skepticism and the Shadow of Doubt\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eTalmudic Philosophies\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 208\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.98 x 8.39 x 6.12 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 06, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53274502070579,"sku":"9780197813980","price":186.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/eqAyCJsBwJ9780197813980.webp?v=1776896402","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/selves-in-doubt-hardcover","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}