Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Palgrave Macmillan

Investigations into the Trans Self and Moore's Paradox

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Linda A. W. Brakel

    1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Explores how the trans phenomenon challenges existing concepts of the Self

  • Considers various theories of the Self, classic and modern, to show that they are inadequate in accommodating fundamental aspects of the trans Self

  • Posits the notion of a new ontological phenotype of the Self

  • 735 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Introduction

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 3-22

  3. Extant Philosophical Views of Self

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 23-23
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Four Classical Philosophical Views of Self

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 25-51

    3. Modern Philosophical Views of Self

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 53-92

    4. Selected Contemporary Gender-Theorists’ Views; or Where Is the Self?

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 93-107

  5. Future Investigations

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 141-141
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Experimental Philosophy (X-Phi) Studies

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 143-165

    3. Summary and Conclusions

      • Linda A. W. Brakel
      Pages 167-172

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 173-176
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book explores how the trans phenomenon can challenge the existing concept of the Self and its nature. The catalyst is Moore’s Paradox: can a trans person coherently state ‘I am a girl but I don’t believe that’? More deeply, three fundamental philosophical questions arise, of ontological, epistemological, and conceptual significance: what Self understands that the natal-gender is ‘wrong’? How does the trans person know that the natal-gender is ‘wrong’ and what counts as evidence? And finally, how does this effect the concept of Self itself? 


Seeking answers, Brakel considers various theories of the Self, including classical accounts, modern views, and models developed by selected gender theorists. The book then takes a biological turn, first developing an evolutionary proper-function analysis of gender and trans-gender and subsequently proposing the possibility of a new ontological phenotype. With a review of cutting-edge neuroscientific research conducted over the last twenty-five years, Brakel propels this timely and important investigation toward the future, using experimental philosophy empirical studies adapted from classic thought experiments on the nature of the Self. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Linda A. W. Brakel

About the author

Linda A.W. Brakel, M.D. is Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Faculty Research Associate in Philosophy at the University of Michigan, USA. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Investigations into the Trans Self and Moore's Paradox

  • Authors: Linda A. W. Brakel

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44645-1

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-44644-4Published: 23 May 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-44645-1Published: 22 May 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 176

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Philosophy of Mind, Psychology, general, Philosophy of Biology

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation