Things That Bother Me

April 1, 2018

In this collection of essays, Strawson (philosophy, Univ. of Texas at Austin: The Subject of Experience) enables lay readers to see a philosopher at work. He does so by arguing for a number of strongly held positions. The "silliest claim that has ever been made" is the denial of consciousness, and Strawson is merciless toward those who profess a physicalism that excludes it. To the contrary, experience is part of the physical world, not something to be explained away. If one accepts experience, this by no means carries along with it belief in a continuous self that extends throughout a person's life. In the author's own life, about which he writes vividly, Strawson often views past events as no longer part of his self. Given this view, it is hardly surprising that he rejects the theory that human life is a story written by the person who lives it. Strawson also argues for "No Ownership (of the Future)," i.e., painless death takes nothing away from us and does us no harm; and he denies that people bear ultimate moral responsibility for their actions. VERDICT Strawson's skill at argument, highly personal views, and immense learning make this book ideal for anyone interested in philosophy. Comparable to Thomas Nagel's The Last Word.--David Gordon, Ludwig von Mises Inst., Auburn, AL

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