{"product_id":"9780197813980","title":"PRE-ORDER NOW Selves in Doubt by Eli Hirsch","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e PRE-ORDER NOW - Published: 20\/05\/2026 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn Selves in Doubt, 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.   The 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.   A 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\u003eBinding: Hardback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56367799271797,"sku":"9780197813980","price":56.66,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780197813980.jpg?v=1763548014","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9780197813980","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}