The Human Animal: Personal Identity without Psychology (Philosophy of Mind)
"A very clear and powerfully argued defence of a most important and surprisingly neglected view."--Derek Parfit, author ofReasons and Persons(All Souls College, Oxford)"For hundreds of years, almost all philosophers writing on the topic have supposed that personal identity is either entirely a matter of psychology or at least has an important and essential psychological component. This important book presents a powerful challenge to that assumption. If Dr. Olson is right, we are living animals and what goes on in our minds is wholly irrelevant to questions about our persistence through time. If this book receives the attention it deserves, it will transform philosophical thinking about personal identity."--Peter van Inwagen, author ofAn Essay on Free Will,Material Beings, andMetaphysics(University of Notre Dame)"Olson's excellent and enjoyable book should be read by everyone with an interest in metaphysics. For those seriously interested in the philosophy of personal identity, or inourexistence and identity, the matter is more serious; without much delay, you've got to get your hands onThe HumanAnimal--Peter Unger, New York University"A significant contribution to the field. It issues several important challenges to proponents of a psychological approach to personal identity."--Carol Rovane,Yale University