Liberation in the Face of Uncertainty
A New Development in Dialogical Self Theory

This book uses Dialogical Self Theory to respond to the challenges of climate change, well-being, and disenchantment of the world.

Hubert J. M. Hermans (Author)

9781108844406, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 January 2022

450 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.64 kg

'[A] masterful work … [t]his book will interest students, scholars, and activist-practitioners who want novel ways to reground their thinking in philosophy and psychology. … Recommended.' M. Uebel, Choice

In this volume, Dialogical Self Theory is innovatively presented as a guide to help elucidate some of the most pressing problems of our time as they emerge at the interface of self and society. As a bridging framework at the interface of the social sciences and philosophy, Dialogical Self Theory provides a broad view of problem areas that place us in a field of tension between liberation and social imprisonment. With climate change and the coronavirus pandemic serving as wake-up calls, the book focuses on the experience of uncertainty, the disenchantment of the world, the pursuit of happiness, and the cultural limitations of the Western self-ideal. Now more than ever we need to rethink the relationship between self, other, and the natural environment, and this book uses Dialogical Self Theory to explore actual and potential responses of the self to these urgent challenges.

Preface
Introduction
1. Playing with Plato
2. Centralization and decentralization of the self throughout the history of philosophy
3. The other as heaven and hell: the positional basis of dialogue
4. Re-enchantment of the world
5. Imprisonment and liberation of the self
6. Uncertainty in the self
7. Multiple well-being and other-inclusive happiness.

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Psychology [JM], Social theory [JHBA], Sociology & anthropology [JH]