Description

Book Synopsis
Self-Knowledge introduces philosophical ideas about knowledge and the self. The book takes the form of a personal meditation: it is one person’s attempt to reflect philosophically upon vital aspects of his existence. It shows how profound philosophy can swiftly emerge from intense private reflection upon the details of one’s life and, thus, will help the reader take the first steps toward philosophical self-understanding. Along the way, readers will encounter moments of puzzlement, then clarity, followed by more perplexity and further insights, and then—finally—some philosophical peace of mind.

Trade Review
“Hetherington’s little book is an amazing combination of sophistication and innocence. The format is Cartesian and the basic intuitions are about the search for self-understanding, but by means of a clever focus the conclusions are fallibilist and body-oriented. Readers should react vociferously to this appealing and direct tour of many philosophical problems, more closely argued than the relaxed style suggests. It has the distinction of doing justice to the disturbing quality of philosophical questions without blather or pretension.” — Adam Morton, Canada Research Chair in Epistemology and Decision Theory, University of Alberta

“Stephen Hetherington’s Self-Knowledge is a unique and fascinating introduction to philosophy. It manages to combine a lucid, unpretentious style with a genuinely insightful treatment of some of the deepest and most baffling problems of philosophy. What sets it apart from so many introductions is the way it engages with readers in a fresh and direct way to use philosophical reasoning to think about their own lives. An exceptional book.” — Tim Crane, Professor of Philosophy, University College London

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Why?
Learning with this Book

Knowing One’s Physical Nature

  1. “I’ve just gotta be me”
  2. My left hand
  3. Other body parts
  4. Hidden body parts
  5. A methodological moment: being philosophical
  6. Mirrors
  7. My skin
  8. Family photographs
  9. My brain
  10. A motivational moment
  11. Overview of the day
    Further Reading

Knowing One’s Mental Nature

  1. “The real me, the inner me”
  2. A non-physical me?
  3. Another methodological moment: introspection
  4. Listening to one’s mind
  5. Discovering myself? Creating myself?
  6. Partial people?
  7. An underlying self?
  8. Whose thoughts are these?
  9. A persisting self?
  10. An unchanging inner self?
  11. Memories
  12. A valuable inner self?
  13. Intelligence
  14. Moral worth
  15. Personal values
  16. Inner character
  17. Free will
  18. A pause
  19. Overview of the day
    Further Reading

What Kind of Thing Would Self-Knowledge Be?

  1. Some pessimism about knowing what self-knowledge is
  2. Some optimism about knowing what self-knowledge is
  3. Self-knowledge and other knowledge
  4. Floating minds
  5. Deeply unique self-knowledge
  6. Mere opinion
  7. Self-confidence
  8. Accurate confidence
  9. Luck
  10. Normal circumstances
  11. Reliability
  12. Good evidence
  13. Agreeing with other people
  14. Unusual knowledge
  15. Self-knowledge
  16. Where to next?
  17. Overview of the day
    Further Reading

How Might Self-Knowledge Be Gained?

  1. Methods? Which methods?
  2. Intuition
  3. Dreams
  4. Literature and movies
  5. Actions
  6. Psychological and medical studies
  7. Friends and family
  8. Experience and maturity
  9. Back to basics
  10. Tomorrow, into battle
  11. Overview of the day
    Further Reading

Confronting Doubts about Whether Self-Knowledge is Possible

  1. Doubts, more doubts
  2. Sensing and observing
  3. Reasoning and memory
  4. Complexity
  5. Meaning
  6. Inductive reasoning
  7. Test case: love
  8. Self-deception
  9. Self-involvement? Self-detachment?
  10. Dreaming and the senses
  11. Knowing something fallibly
  12. Usual knowledge
  13. Infallibility
  14. Two pictures of fallibility
  15. Living fallibly
  16. “That’s life”
  17. Philosophical progress
  18. Overview of the day
    Further Reading

A Possible Philosophy Course

Self-Knowledge: Beginning Philosophy Right Here

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    RRP £29.95 – you save £1.50 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Tue 16 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Stephen Hetherington

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      View other formats and editions of Self-Knowledge: Beginning Philosophy Right Here by Stephen Hetherington

      Publisher: Broadview Press Ltd
      Publication Date: 30/03/2007
      ISBN13: 9781551117980, 978-1551117980
      ISBN10: 1551117983
      Also in:
      Philosophy Philosophy of mind

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Self-Knowledge introduces philosophical ideas about knowledge and the self. The book takes the form of a personal meditation: it is one person’s attempt to reflect philosophically upon vital aspects of his existence. It shows how profound philosophy can swiftly emerge from intense private reflection upon the details of one’s life and, thus, will help the reader take the first steps toward philosophical self-understanding. Along the way, readers will encounter moments of puzzlement, then clarity, followed by more perplexity and further insights, and then—finally—some philosophical peace of mind.

      Trade Review
      “Hetherington’s little book is an amazing combination of sophistication and innocence. The format is Cartesian and the basic intuitions are about the search for self-understanding, but by means of a clever focus the conclusions are fallibilist and body-oriented. Readers should react vociferously to this appealing and direct tour of many philosophical problems, more closely argued than the relaxed style suggests. It has the distinction of doing justice to the disturbing quality of philosophical questions without blather or pretension.” — Adam Morton, Canada Research Chair in Epistemology and Decision Theory, University of Alberta

      “Stephen Hetherington’s Self-Knowledge is a unique and fascinating introduction to philosophy. It manages to combine a lucid, unpretentious style with a genuinely insightful treatment of some of the deepest and most baffling problems of philosophy. What sets it apart from so many introductions is the way it engages with readers in a fresh and direct way to use philosophical reasoning to think about their own lives. An exceptional book.” — Tim Crane, Professor of Philosophy, University College London

      Table of Contents

      Acknowledgements
      Why?
      Learning with this Book

      Knowing One’s Physical Nature

      1. “I’ve just gotta be me”
      2. My left hand
      3. Other body parts
      4. Hidden body parts
      5. A methodological moment: being philosophical
      6. Mirrors
      7. My skin
      8. Family photographs
      9. My brain
      10. A motivational moment
      11. Overview of the day
        Further Reading

      Knowing One’s Mental Nature

      1. “The real me, the inner me”
      2. A non-physical me?
      3. Another methodological moment: introspection
      4. Listening to one’s mind
      5. Discovering myself? Creating myself?
      6. Partial people?
      7. An underlying self?
      8. Whose thoughts are these?
      9. A persisting self?
      10. An unchanging inner self?
      11. Memories
      12. A valuable inner self?
      13. Intelligence
      14. Moral worth
      15. Personal values
      16. Inner character
      17. Free will
      18. A pause
      19. Overview of the day
        Further Reading

      What Kind of Thing Would Self-Knowledge Be?

      1. Some pessimism about knowing what self-knowledge is
      2. Some optimism about knowing what self-knowledge is
      3. Self-knowledge and other knowledge
      4. Floating minds
      5. Deeply unique self-knowledge
      6. Mere opinion
      7. Self-confidence
      8. Accurate confidence
      9. Luck
      10. Normal circumstances
      11. Reliability
      12. Good evidence
      13. Agreeing with other people
      14. Unusual knowledge
      15. Self-knowledge
      16. Where to next?
      17. Overview of the day
        Further Reading

      How Might Self-Knowledge Be Gained?

      1. Methods? Which methods?
      2. Intuition
      3. Dreams
      4. Literature and movies
      5. Actions
      6. Psychological and medical studies
      7. Friends and family
      8. Experience and maturity
      9. Back to basics
      10. Tomorrow, into battle
      11. Overview of the day
        Further Reading

      Confronting Doubts about Whether Self-Knowledge is Possible

      1. Doubts, more doubts
      2. Sensing and observing
      3. Reasoning and memory
      4. Complexity
      5. Meaning
      6. Inductive reasoning
      7. Test case: love
      8. Self-deception
      9. Self-involvement? Self-detachment?
      10. Dreaming and the senses
      11. Knowing something fallibly
      12. Usual knowledge
      13. Infallibility
      14. Two pictures of fallibility
      15. Living fallibly
      16. “That’s life”
      17. Philosophical progress
      18. Overview of the day
        Further Reading

      A Possible Philosophy Course

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