The Self after Postmodernity

by Professor Calvin O. Schrag

American philosopher Calvin O. Schrag here rejects bleak deconstructionist and postmodern views of the human self, chooses a new vocabulary to describe the self, and depicts an action-oriented self defined by the ways it communicates. This thought-provoking book provides an overview of Schrag`s philosophy and includes a discussion of the role of culture in the dynamics of self-formation.

Genres: Philosophy

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Eric]

The book is now almost 30 years old, and takes its stance after the rise (and fall?) of postmodernism. Schrag is careful to acknowledge that the Cartesian self is still passe, but still maintains the self survives, though in what appears to be ephemeral form. Communication is the core of the newly reconstituted self, allowing the self to rise from the ashes of deconstruction. But communications should be positive (my word) and supportive, not negative. Not sure how the new self talks only from good thoughts, but I concede this is an area of "I know it when I see it." Even though we can determine (not rigorously of course) what is supportive and what is destructive speech, Schag offers no reason why to favor nice speech. Why could not the Schragian self arise from the abyss, spouting Nietzsche, laying low before him all who stand in his path to the Ubermensch?

The book offers no new and radical defense for the self, but instead seeks only to leave the reader with a limited hope that they can talk with other (selves) and constitute themselves anew. But in defense of Schrag, when the book came out the wasteland of Western though seemed pervasive, meaning Schrag was taking more of a contrarian position than would appear nearly 30 years on. No new metanarrative dominates the academy, which has the side effect of diminishing the impact of the book.

[Andrew]

The book travels between four concepts of self-hood, building up not to a conclusion but a finished survey. I thought the choices of po-mo representatives were made well for the topic at hand. The book itself is thankfully much easier to read--in fairly plain English--unlike most postmodernists.