On Being Me : A Personal Invitation to Philosophy / J. David Velleman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Velleman, J. David, Author.

Contributor:

Bernstein, Emily

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human beings.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 91 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2020]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A moral philosopher’s meditations on some of life’s most important questionsWe’ve all had to puzzle over such profound matters as birth, death, regret, free will, agency, and love. How might philosophy help us think through these vital concerns? In On Being Me, renowned moral philosopher J. David Velleman presents a concise, accessible, and intimate exploration into subjects that we care deeply about, offering compelling insights into what it means to be human.Each of Velleman’s short, personal chapters begins with a theme: “Being Glad I Was Born,” “Wanting to Go On,” “Fearing the End,” “Regretting What Might Have Been,” “Aspiring to Authorship,” “Making Things Happen,” and “Wanting to Be Loved.” Reflecting on how daily life presents us with thorny riddles that need working out, Velleman arrives at unexpected conclusions about survival and personal identity, the self and its future, time and morality, the rationality of regret, free will and personal efficacy, and goodness and love. He shows that we can rely on our own powers of thought to arrive at a better understanding of the most fundamental parts of ourselves—and that the methods of philosophy can help get us there.Beautifully illustrated by New Yorker contributing artist Emily Bernstein, On Being Me invites us to approach life philosophically.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1. Being Glad I Was Born

2. Wanting to Go On

3. Fearing the End

4. Regretting What Might Have Been

5. Aspiring to Authorship

6. Making Things Happen

7. Wanting to Be Loved

Readings

Acknowledgments

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780691200965

0691200963

OCLC:

1130319102