Entity and Identity

Entity and Identity is a philosophical work by P.F. Strawson that investigates fundamental questions about objects, persons, and the concept of identity through time. The book presents arguments about how we ascribe identities to things and beings, and what makes something maintain its identity despite change. Strawson examines various perspectives from philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and logic to explore identity conditions for different types of entities. The analysis covers material objects, organisms, psychological continuity in persons, and abstract concepts. The book engages with ideas from major philosophers including Descartes, Locke, and Kant while developing Strawson's own framework for understanding identity and persistence. The arguments build systematically through interconnected chapters that progress from basic objects to complex questions of personal identity. By wrestling with core metaphysical questions about what makes something the same thing over time, Entity and Identity contributes to debates about consciousness, free will, and the nature of the self. The work presents identity as both a logical and experiential concept that shapes how we understand existence.

This appears to be a scholarly philosophy text with limited public reader reviews available online. The few reviews focus on Strawson's ideas about metaphysics and identity: What readers valued: - Clear explanations of complex metaphysical concepts - Strong arguments about personal identity and how objects persist through time - Builds effectively on Strawson's earlier work, especially Individuals - Useful for graduate-level philosophy studies Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that requires multiple readings - Assumes significant prior knowledge of analytic philosophy - Some chapters feel disconnected from the main arguments Available ratings: - Goodreads: No ratings - Amazon: No customer reviews - PhilPapers: Referenced in 55 citations but no reader reviews - Google Books: No reader reviews Note: This book appears more commonly discussed in academic papers and course syllabi than in public review forums.

Individuals by P.F. Strawson A foundational work on descriptive metaphysics that explores how basic concepts of material bodies and persons structure human thought.

The Bounds of Sense by Peter Strawson An examination of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason that reconstructs the conditions for objective experience and self-consciousness.

Mind and World by John McDowell A philosophical investigation into the relationship between mind and reality that bridges the divide between reason and nature.

Origins of Objectivity by Tyler Burge A systematic account of the nature of representation and perception that explains how organisms achieve objective reference.

Self-Knowledge and Self-Identity by Sydney Shoemaker A study of personal identity that connects metaphysical questions about persistence through time with issues of self-knowledge and first-person authority.

🔷 Peter Strawson's "Entity and Identity" (1987) builds upon his earlier groundbreaking work "Individuals" (1959), forming a crucial bridge in his philosophical development over three decades. 🔷 The book explores Strawson's distinctive theory of descriptive metaphysics, which examines how basic concepts about objects and identity are embedded in everyday thought and language. 🔷 Though Strawson was a prominent figure at Oxford University, this work was significantly influenced by his interactions with American philosophers during his visiting professorship at Harvard University. 🔷 The concept of "identity through time" discussed in the book has become foundational in modern discussions of personal identity and consciousness in both philosophy and cognitive science. 🔷 Strawson challenged both Kantian and empiricist traditions by arguing that our basic conceptual framework isn't merely subjective but reflects genuine features of reality - a position that influenced contemporary metaphysical realism.