What is Identity?
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:7th Dec '89
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The concept of identity has been seen to lead to paradox: we cannot truly and usefully say that a thing is the same either as itself or as something else. This book is a full examination of this paradox in philosophical logic, and of its implications for the philosophy of mathematics, the philosphy of mind, and relativism about identity. The author's account involves detailed discussion of the views of Wittgenstein, Russell, Frege, and Hintikka.
`a worthy final member of an important trilogy, if not the best of the three ... there is no doubt that the author is a virtuoso of this style of philosophizing, a style which, if pursued as carefully and as thoughtfully as Williams pursues it, can still offer valuable insights' Times Literary Supplement
`This book is clearly written by an author who is both technically and historially adept; the result is a first-rate treatment of a deep, difficult philosophical issue.' C.J. Shields, University of Colorado at Boulder, Choice, Dec '90
`This book, is in a high degree important, controversial - and difficult. Those who want the philosophy must be prepared to wrestle with the logic. And that too will be rewarding' New Blackfriars
`intriguing book ... The book is highly integrated and compactly argued.' Robert Elliot, Mind
`William's book is very exciting: the author is well-informed and is a man who thinks!' History and Philosophy of Logic
ISBN: 9780198248088
Dimensions: 223mm x 144mm x 19mm
Weight: 415g
232 pages