The Idea of the Self: Thought and Experience in Western Europe since the Seventeenth Century By...
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94 REVIEWS AND SHORT NOTICES © 2007 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2007 The Historical Association and Blackwell Publishing. The Idea of the Self: Thought and Experience in Western Europe since the Seventeenth Century. By Jerrold Seigel. Cambridge University Press. 2005. viii + 724pp. £19.99. Jerrold Seigel’s The Idea of the Self treats intelligently a host of early modern to contemporary thinkers’ conceptions of self. Given the challenge of covering so many thinkers, Seigel interprets and historicizes them coherently, and delves into the surrounding scholarship. His readings are subtle, capturing the nuances of each theory of self. Importantly, his theses are clear throughout. However, the treatment of the figures in the book may be too brief for the requirements of some, for texts are not always analysed as closely and contextualized as thoroughly as might be hoped. This may not be a crucial failing, as this book seems to emphasize a broader historical and philosophical project. Given this caveat, Seigel’s book should be invaluable for advanced scholars while serving equally well as a gateway into the subject. Seigel’s purposes are dually historical and philosophical. His main historical and conceptual aims are to explore a variety of conceptions of the self and to show that these almost always fall along one or more of three dimensions: bodily, relational and reflective. Generally, bodily selves are constructed out of human physiology; relational selves develop out of social circumstances, and reflective selves are based on the mind’s consideration of itself. Out of this structure, Seigel’s primary philosophical contention is that one-dimensional models of the self distort human identity, especially purely reflective selves, which oscillate between denying the self entirely or radically inflating the self towards limitless potency. Here, Seigel hopes to show that historical study of theories of self is relevant to contemporary philosophy of mind. Concerning these claims, Seigel’s methodology may reveal a gap between his philosophical intentions and his historical content, for historical example does not necessarily indicate that ideas of self will always behave as they have been previously theorized. Nevertheless, Seigel’s project as a whole is not vulnerable to such criticism because his claims are, I believe, philosophically cogent. Because of the arguments’ philosophical foundations and in so far as these are concerned, the book does shift from history to genealogy. Thus, Seigel’s examination of historical theories of self may suggest or reinforce but cannot demonstrate the preferability of multi-dimensional self-conceptions. These historical and philosophical aspects do not always meet seamlessly; none the less, Seigel’s study deserves attention for its intriguing work in both areas. University of Exeter BENJAMIN THOMPSON Introduction to Global Military History: 1775 to the Present Day. By Jeremy Black. Routledge. 2005. xix + 294pp. £16.99. In introducing us to his ‘Global Military History’, Professor Black sets himself a formidable set of targets. He is determined to move away from the well-trodden paths of great-power conflict and the vogue for eurocentricity. He seeks to build up discussion of Asian developments and view them not as a mere adjunct to those of the west. He wishes to strike a balance between social/ political context and the purely military dimension with its concern for fighting and military capability. To a considerable degree, Professor Black succeeds in reaching these impressive goals.
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Transcript of The Idea of the Self: Thought and Experience in Western Europe since the Seventeenth Century By...
94 REVIEWS AND SHORT NOTICES
© 2007 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2007 The Historical Association and Blackwell Publishing.
The Idea of the Self: Thought and Experience in Western Europe since theSeventeenth Century
. By Jerrold Seigel.
Cambridge University Press. 2005. viii +724pp. £19.99.
Jerrold Seigel’s
The Idea of the Self
treats intelligently a host of early modernto contemporary thinkers’ conceptions of self. Given the challenge of coveringso many thinkers, Seigel interprets and historicizes them coherently, and delvesinto the surrounding scholarship. His readings are subtle, capturing the nuancesof each theory of self. Importantly, his theses are clear throughout. However, thetreatment of the figures in the book may be too brief for the requirementsof some, for texts are not always analysed as closely and contextualized asthoroughly as might be hoped. This may not be a crucial failing, as this bookseems to emphasize a broader historical and philosophical project. Given thiscaveat, Seigel’s book should be invaluable for advanced scholars while servingequally well as a gateway into the subject.
Seigel’s purposes are dually historical and philosophical. His main historicaland conceptual aims are to explore a variety of conceptions of the self and toshow that these almost always fall along one or more of three dimensions:bodily, relational and reflective. Generally, bodily selves are constructed out ofhuman physiology; relational selves develop out of social circumstances, andreflective selves are based on the mind’s consideration of itself.
Out of this structure, Seigel’s primary philosophical contention is thatone-dimensional models of the self distort human identity, especially purelyreflective selves, which oscillate between denying the self entirely or radicallyinflating the self towards limitless potency. Here, Seigel hopes to show thathistorical study of theories of self is relevant to contemporary philosophy ofmind. Concerning these claims, Seigel’s methodology may reveal a gap betweenhis philosophical intentions and his historical content, for historical exampledoes not necessarily indicate that ideas of self will always behave as they havebeen previously theorized. Nevertheless, Seigel’s project as a whole is notvulnerable to such criticism because his claims are, I believe, philosophically cogent.
Because of the arguments’ philosophical foundations and in so far as theseare concerned, the book does shift from history to genealogy. Thus, Seigel’sexamination of historical theories of self may suggest or reinforce but cannotdemonstrate the preferability of multi-dimensional self-conceptions. Thesehistorical and philosophical aspects do not always meet seamlessly; none theless, Seigel’s study deserves attention for its intriguing work in both areas.
University of Exeter
BENJAMIN THOMPSON
Introduction to Global Military History: 1775 to the Present Day
. By JeremyBlack.
Routledge. 2005. xix + 294pp. £16.99.In introducing us to his ‘Global Military History’, Professor Black sets
himself a formidable set of targets. He is determined to move away from thewell-trodden paths of great-power conflict and the vogue for eurocentricity. Heseeks to build up discussion of Asian developments and view them not as a mereadjunct to those of the west. He wishes to strike a balance between social/political context and the purely military dimension with its concern for fightingand military capability. To a considerable degree, Professor Black succeeds inreaching these impressive goals.
![[Jerrold e. marsden,_michael_j._hoffman]_analisis_(book_fi.org)](https://static.fdocuments.in/doc/165x107/55ae811f1a28ab8b5c8b4830/jerrold-e-marsdenmichaeljhoffmananalisisbookfiorg.jpg)
