Subjectivity and the Elusiveness of the Self
Abstract
‘Where am I?’ This is something we might expect to hear from hapless explorers or academics with no sense of direction. If we can, we'll explain to our inquirer that he is east of East St. Louis and hope he can find his way from there. If he persists, insisting that he is not really lost, but only cannot find himself no matter how hard he looks, we might reasonably suspect that we are dealing with that peculiarly incorrigible academic explorer, the philosopher. When we hesitantly point to his body, we hear him explain, exasperated, ‘No, don't you get it? That's my body, but I’m looking for my self! And I cannot find it!’ At this point it is tempting to slip away, convinced that our philosophical friend is throttling himself with the noose of his own cleverness and is at risk of intellectual suicide by denying that he in fact has a self. Nevertheless, we shouldn't turn away so quickly: some pretty ingenious people from radically diverse schools of thought have endorsed the claim that the self ineluctably evades detection.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Projective geometry accounts for certain puzzling features of consciousness that stem from its perspectival character.
“We argue that projective geometry accounts for certain puzzling features of consciousness that stem from its perspectival character”
From The Projective Consciousness Model and Phenomenal Selfhood (2018) · cites this paper as Howell, 2010
Cites
Hume, D. A. (1739) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511620409.040 · Cited by 9,855 · see citing works
Tractatus logico-philosophicus
(2021) · Anthem Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv22d4t7n.8 · Cited by 4,883 · see citing works
Sartre, J. P., & Richmond, S. (2022) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429434013 · Cited by 2,935 · see citing works
Evans, G., & McDowell, J. (1982) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,047 · see citing works
DRETSKE, F. I., Editions, C., & Recanati, F. (1995) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/4872.001.0001 · Cited by 1,983 · see citing works
A MATERIALIST THEORY OF THE MIND
Kingdom, E. (1968) · Philosophical Books · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0149.1968.tb01392.x · Cited by 1,746 · see citing works
Ten Problems of Consciousness: A Representational Theory of the Phenomenal Mind
Tye, M. (1995) · doi:10.7551/mitpress/6712.001.0001 · Cited by 1,718 · see citing works
Psychology from An Empirical Standpoint
Brentano, F. (2014) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315747446 · Cited by 1,412 · see citing works
The Intrinsic Quality of Experience
Harman, G. (1990) · Philosophical Perspectives · doi:10.2307/2214186 · Cited by 1,409 · see citing works
The Transparency of Experience
Martin, M. G. F. (2002) · Mind & Language · doi:10.1111/1468-0017.00205 · Cited by 1,121 · see citing works
The First-Person Perspective and Other Essays
Shoemaker, S. (1996) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511624674 · Cited by 934 · see citing works
Moran, R. (2002) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9781400842971 · Cited by 888 · see citing works
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus.
Geach, P. T., Wittgenstein's, L., Pears, D. F., McGuinness, B. F., & Russell, B. (1963) · The Philosophical Review · doi:10.2307/2183116 · Cited by 821 · see citing works
Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology
Lewis, D. (1999) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511625343 · Cited by 672 · see citing works
Guttenplan, S. (1975) · Cited by 632 · see citing works
Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint
Rauch, L. (1973) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.5840/philstudies19732225 · Cited by 604 · see citing works
Moore, G. E. (1903) · Mind · doi:10.1093/mind/xii.4.433 · Cited by 512 · see citing works
König, T. (2004) · J.B. Metzler eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-476-02949-2_50 · Cited by 477 · see citing works
Bermúdez, J. L., Marcel, A. J., & Eilan, N. (1995) · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Block, N. (1996) · Philosophical Issues · doi:10.2307/1522889 · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Brain bisection and the unity of consciousness
Nagel, T. (1971) · Synthese · doi:10.1007/bf00413435 · Cited by 435 · see citing works
Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology
Sosa, E., & Lewis, D. (2000) · The Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.2307/2678398 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
Kagey, R., & Bradley, F. H. (1931) · The Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.2307/2016600 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
A Materialist Theory of the Mind
Armstrong, D. M., & Anstey, P. R. (2022) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/b23154 · Cited by 371 · see citing works
Cleve, J. V. (1999) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195083224.001.0001 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
Wittgenstein on Mind and Language
Stern, D. (1995) · doi:10.1093/0195080009.001.0001 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
Tye, M. (2003) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/2109.001.0001 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
Bar‐On, D. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0199276285.001.0001 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Rost, E. R. (1930) · Williams and Norgate eBooks · Cited by 274 · see citing works
The nature of consciousness : philosophical debates
Block, N., Flanagan, O., & Güzeldere, G. (1997) · Cited by 265 · see citing works
SELF‐KNOWLEDGE AND SELF‐IDENTITY
Walker, J. (1964) · Philosophical Books · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0149.1964.tb00838.x · Cited by 247 · see citing works
Aldrich, V. C., & Chisholm, R. M. (1978) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.2307/2106986 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
C., J. E., & Bradley, F. H. (1893) · The Philosophical Review · doi:10.2307/2176033 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Aune, B. (1994) · The Philosophical Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2219610 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Moran, R. (2012) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctt7sgs5 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Sartre, J.-P. (2004) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203694367-3 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Self-knowledge and self-identity
Shoemaker, S. (1964) · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Siewert, C. (2004) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1023/b:phil.0000014523.89489.59 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Burge, T. (2000) · doi:10.1093/0199241406.003.0009 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness
(2004) · Advances in consciousness research · doi:10.1075/aicr.56 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
What’s so Transparent about Transparency?
Kind, A. (2003) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1023/a:1025124607332 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness
Carruthers, P. (2007) · Blackwell Publishing Ltd eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470751466.ch22 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Three versions of the bundle theory
Cleve, J. V. (1985) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/bf00355089 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
The Argument from Diaphanousness
Stoljar, D. (2004) · Canadian Journal of Philosophy Supplementary Volume · doi:10.1080/00455091.2004.10717610 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
The Science of Knowledge (1794–1795)
(2008) · Harvard University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv1pdrpvk.20 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
The Buddhist Tradition in India, China, and Japan
Jayatilleke, K. N., de Bary, W. T., Hakeda, Y. S., & Yampolsky, P. (1970) · Philosophy East and West · doi:10.2307/1398156 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Bodily Awareness: A Sense of Ownership
(1995) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/1640.003.0014 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Consciousness as Internal Monitoring, I: The Third Philosophical Perspectives Lecture
Lycan, W. G. (1995) · Philosophical Perspectives · doi:10.2307/2214210 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Naturalizing Subjective Character
Kriegel, U. (2005) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.1111/j.1933-1592.2005.tb00429.x · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Consciousness: New Philosophical Perspectives
Smith, Q., & Jokić, A. V. (2003) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Shoemaker, S. (1986) · Midwest Studies in Philosophy · doi:10.1111/j.1475-4975.1987.tb00536.x · Cited by 91 · see citing works
4. Higher-order global states (HOGS)
Gulick, R. V. (2004) · Advances in consciousness research · doi:10.1075/aicr.56.06gul · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Fernández, J. (2003) · The Philosophical Quarterly · doi:10.1111/1467-9213.00317 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Bar‐On, D. (2000) · Philosophical Topics · doi:10.5840/philtopics200028216 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Is Experiencing Just Representing?
Block, N. J., & Tye, M. (1998) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.2307/2653766 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Consciousness, Color, and Content
Tye, M. (2003) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1023/a:1024075818378 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
Wittgenstein, L. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/owc/9780198861379.001.0001 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Bradley, F. H. (2011) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139136501 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
On the Observability of the Self
Chisholm, R. M. (1969) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.2307/2105917 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Shoemaker, S. (1994) · Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association · doi:10.2307/3130588 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
The Knowledge Argument and Objectivity
Howell, R. J. (2007) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-007-9077-0 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Self-citationSelf‐Knowledge and Self‐Reference
Howell, R. J. (2006) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.1111/j.1933-1592.2006.tb00490.x · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Self-citation(2003) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199241286.001.0001 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Skepticism about the external world
Butchvarov, P. (1999) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.36-2686 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Skepticism About The External World
Butchvarov, P. (1998) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195117196.001.0001 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
The Same-Order Monitoring Theory of Consciousness
Kriegel, U. (2006) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/6155.003.0008 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Gulick, R. V. (2006) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/6155.003.0003 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Consciousness and self-reference
Falk, A. E. (1995) · Erkenntnis · doi:10.1007/bf01128194 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Immunity to Error and Subjectivity
Howell, R. J. (2007) · Canadian Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.1353/cjp.2008.0004 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationTransparent Experience and the Availability of Qualia
Loar, B. (2017) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199673353.003.0016 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self‐Knowledge and Phenomenal Unity
Siewert, C. (2001) · Noûs · doi:10.1111/0029-4624.00351 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Rosenberg, J. F., & Butchvarov, P. (1979) · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Raymont, P., & Brook, A. (2009) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199262618.003.0033 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
IV—The First Person Perspective
Eilan, N. (1995) · Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society (Hardback) · doi:10.1093/aristotelian/95.1.51 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Shoemaker on Self-Knowledge and Inner Sense
Macdonald, C. (1999) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.2307/2653791 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Defining ‘intrinsic’ (with Rae Langton)
Lewis, D. (1999) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511625343.007 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
van Staden, W. (2005) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2005.0034 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Consciousness and the unity of mind
Rowlands, M. (2016) · Animal Sentience · doi:10.51291/2377-7478.1167 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
2 of the 80 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Projective Consciousness Model and Phenomenal Selfhood
Williford, K., Bennequin, D., Friston, K., & Rudrauf, D. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02571 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Editorial: Consciousness and Inner Awareness
Farrell, J., & McClelland, T. (2017) · Review of Philosophy and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s13164-017-0331-x · Cited by 37 · see citing works
The Self Shows Up in Experience
Duncan, M. (2017) · Review of Philosophy and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s13164-017-0355-2 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Crossing the bridge: the first-person and time
Stokes, P. (2013) · Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11097-013-9302-6 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
GENDER AND SES EFFECTS ON MULTIDIMENSIONAL SELF-CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT DURING ADOLESCENCE
Orr, P. M. (2013) · Arrow - TU Dublin (Technological University Dublin) · doi:10.21427/d7f881 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-Experience Despite Self-Elusiveness
Gottlieb, J. (2022) · Review of Philosophy and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s13164-022-00654-w · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Subjectivity and Non-Objectifying Awareness
O’Conaill, D. (2022) · Review of Philosophy and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s13164-022-00665-7 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self Awareness and the Self-Presenting Character of Abnormal Conscious Experience
López‐Silva, P. (2014) · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Duncan, S. (2014) · doi:10.18130/v3t26q
What is pre‐reflective self‐consciousness an awareness of? An argument for the egological view
Barbieri, A. (2025) · The Southern Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.1111/sjp.12614
La genèse de la représentation de soi : une approche néo-humienne
Charrier, A. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f7bf6301za687z402czb3cdz355d6f893cc1
- Authors
- Howell, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Southern Methodist University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Howell, Robert J.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Philosophy
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 459-483
- ISSN
- 0045-5091 (ISSN-L)
- 1911-0820
- OpenAlex
- W2137443973
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Philosophy (publishedVersion)
- Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
- Keywords
- subjectivity, self, selfhood, personal identity, self-knowledge, mind-body problem, philosophy of the self
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
