Herbert Fingarette

Herbert Fingarette (1921-2018) was an American philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His work focused primarily on issues of self-deception, responsibility, and the philosophy of mind, with significant contributions to the understanding of alcoholism and addiction. Fingarette's most influential book, "Self-Deception" (1969), challenged conventional psychological theories about conscious and unconscious mental states. His controversial work "Heavy Drinking: The Myth of Alcoholism as a Disease" (1988) questioned the medical model of alcoholism and sparked significant debate in both academic and treatment circles. Throughout his career, Fingarette explored Confucian philosophy and wrote extensively on Chinese philosophical traditions, publishing "Confucius: The Secular as Sacred" (1972). In his later years, he turned his attention to death and mortality, publishing "Death: Philosophical Soundings" (1996) and appearing in a short documentary about facing death titled "Being 97" (2018). His work consistently challenged established paradigms and conventional wisdom, particularly in the fields of addiction studies and moral responsibility. Fingarette's writings continue to influence discussions in philosophy, psychology, and addiction treatment.

Readers value Fingarette's clear writing and unique perspectives on confucianism, self-deception, and death. Many cite Death: Philosophical Soundings as his most impactful work, appreciating his honest examination of death without religious overtones. Philosophy professors frequently assign his work Confucius: The Secular as Sacred in undergraduate courses. Readers praise: - Direct engagement with difficult topics - Integration of Eastern and Western philosophy - Clear explanations of complex concepts Common criticisms: - Dense academic language in some works - Limited accessibility for general readers - Lack of practical applications Ratings: Goodreads: - Self-Deception (3.9/5 from 78 ratings) - Death: Philosophical Soundings (4.1/5 from 42 ratings) - Confucius: The Secular as Sacred (4.0/5 from 56 ratings) Amazon: - Self-Deception (4.2/5 from 12 reviews) - Death: Philosophical Soundings (4.4/5 from 8 reviews)

Death: Philosophical Soundings (1996) An examination of how humans conceptualize and confront death, exploring both ancient and modern philosophical perspectives on mortality.

Self-Deception (1969) A philosophical analysis of the nature of self-deception, examining how individuals can simultaneously know and not know something.

Confucius: The Secular as Sacred (1972) An interpretation of Confucian philosophy that explores its secular and religious dimensions through analysis of key Confucian concepts.

The Self in Transformation (1963) A study of psychoanalytic theory and its relationship to philosophical understanding of human nature and personal identity.

Heavy Drinking: The Myth of Alcoholism as a Disease (1988) A critique of the disease model of alcoholism, proposing alternative ways to understand and address heavy drinking.

Mapping Responsibility: Explorations in Mind, Law, Myth, and Culture (2004) An investigation into how responsibility is understood across different cultural and legal contexts.

Defending the Self: A Study in Psychoanalysis (1983) An analysis of the concept of self-defense mechanisms in psychoanalytic theory and their role in human psychology.