The Social Self

Much debate in recent years has centered on the status of the self, identity, and subjectivity, spawned by powerful arguments about the social origins of personhood. The Social Self presents many viewpoints in this debate that span the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, politics, and feminist theory, providing a critical overview of the key themes involved. In this accessible volume, international scholars examine the sense in which we are social selves, whose very identities are intimately bound up with the communities and cultures in which we live. Drawing from Wittgenstein, Marx, Foucault, Bakhtin, Gilligan, and MacIntyre, among others, the chapters show the diversity of influences that have shaped this exciting and controversial issue. The Social Self contributes valuable perspectives on the social construction of the self for students and academics throughout the social sciences and the humanities.