Subjectivity: Theories of the Self from Freud to Haraway

Rating:
Summary: Skating on thin ice
Review: It seems that philosophy in the 20th century has tended towards hermeneutics, the art of interpretation, only that the meaning of this word has been extended to mean the interpretation of the human being, the being that interprets and understands itself. Mansfield's book seems to me like a quick dip into the study of subjectivity, although not only a presentation but also a critical analysis of all the main theories that have sprung up in the 20th century which attempt at defining or conceptualizing subjectivity. As stated in the title, he goes from Freud, passing through all the main currents and philosophies, to Haraway, explaining in a very palatable manner these theories, even the most unpalatable ones. Moreover, he makes it clear as to why these theories have all failed to fully encompass and explicate selfhood. The organization of the chapters helps us understand the evolution of different modes of thought, which leads to the 'death' of the subject. Since he deals with such an elusive, ever-changing topic, in quite a concise manner, the only snag is that in order for us to fully grasp these theories, in order to dive deeply under the surface, we feel that we have to resort to his 'further reading' recommendations. Surely, after reading this book, one may expect that the task will prove to be easier than it might have seemed before.