{"product_id":"selves-in-doubt-eli-hirsch-9780197813980","title":"Selves in Doubt","description":"In \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. \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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Eli Hirsch\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0197813984\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780197813980\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/06\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 208\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.74lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.39h x 6.12w x 0.98d","brand":"Eli Hirsch","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48440585388287,"sku":"9780197813980","price":105.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b39e2d39-6b51-4bb1-8560-b16bc1bf75ad.jpg?v=1777183424","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/selves-in-doubt-eli-hirsch-9780197813980","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}