Self-Deception

by Herbert Fingarette

Book Overview

With a new chapter

This new edition of Herbert Fingarette's classic study in philosophical psychology now includes a provocative recent essay on the topic by the author. A seminal work, the book has deeply influenced the fields of philosophy, ethics, psychology, and cognitive science, and it remains an important focal point for the large body of literature on self-deception that has appeared since its publication.

How can one...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520220528
• ISBN13: 9780520220522
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 189 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

what philosophy SHOULD be about

the author is a brilliant professor of philosophy. this book examines personal responsibility in a succinct manner. i recommend this book for serious students of philosophy, psychology, law, sociology. it is also a wonderful guide for personal self-examination. Dr.Fingarette is one of the most brilliant authors i have ever encountered.

A keystone in the slippery debate

If you are willing to take a deep dive into the slippery topic of self-deception, then this book is the book for you. The author takes a decidedly philosophical and academic knife to the topic. Usually, I don't like this kind of approach because it's not a "page-turner." In fact, it's a difficult book to read. Thank goodness it's short. However, given the deep challenges associated with understanding the dynamics of self deception, the author's argument makes more sense because he does a great job outlining the failures of the extant literature before he attempts to reframe the problem, which he does brilliantly. The idea that self deception is not a problem of belief systems but rather an issue of identity; that is, fractures, dissociations, and "disavowals" related to one's identity concept makes perfect sense. After reading this book, I see the world in an entirely new way. Highly recommended.