Heidegger's Philosophy and Theories of the Self (Ashgate New Critical Thinking In Philosophy)

The aim of this volume is to examine a number of different theories of the self explicitly set out in, or implied by, the work of Descartes, Hume, Kant, Max Stirner, Heidegger, Sartre, and R.D. Laing. The seven theorists are divided into two camps representing two distinctly different schools of thought. The first group, which includes Descartes, Hume, Kant, Sartre and Stirner, represents a tradition that has dominated western philosophy since Descartes, and the author argues that, although these five differ in many ways, they share certain approaches and a dualism that critically influences their theories of the self. The second group, which comprises Heidegger and Laing, represents a radical departure from the tradition and a rejection of the approach shared by its members, and consequently a very different understanding of selfhood. Explaining and defending a Heideggarian account of the self and our knowledge of the world, this book addresses the fundamental issues of selfhood and the elemental question of what it means to be human. Mitchell critically examines theories of the self derived from two distinct schools of thought: Descartes, Hume, Kant, Sartre and Stirner, representing a tradition which has dominated Western philosophy since Descartes, and who share a dualism which critically influences their theories of self; and Heidegger and Laing, representing a radical departure from the tradition and consequently a very different understanding of selfhood. Mitchell focuses on two key philosophical problems throughout: the problem of knowledge to explore the relation between the self and the world that is not- self, and the problem of identity to explore the relation between the self and itself over time.

Mitchell concludes that Heidegger provides a more adequate notion of selfhood than those from other philosophical traditions but argues that ultimately Heidegger does no more than echo Stirner's empty egoism and provides a bleak, inescapable heroism for the individual.