Reflections on Quasi-Indexicals, Self-Reference and Self-Knowledge

Abstract

Building on recent linguistic and philosophical research on quasi-indexicals, self-consciousness, anaphora, and discours indirect libre, I argue that they raise problems (as already pointed out by Castañeda and others) for the definition of (de se) self-knowledge understood according to the Classical Definition of Knowledge (conceived as expressing at least the necessary conditions for knowledge, if not a sufficient set of conditions). I call this extremely difficult problem the “non-detachment problem”. I show that, for this reason, self-knowledge must always be considered perspectival and non-third-personal, in the relevant cases. I also discuss and criticize the Lewis-Chierchia interpretation of de se attitudes. Furthermore, I discuss the role of the (a) self in the strict sense in an adequate account of so-called self-knowledge, and in a problem closely related to the “non-detachment problem”, that of the reconstruction of the cogito.

Keywords

• Indexicals; Quasi-indexicals; Classical (tripartite) Definition of Knowledge; Self-knowledge; Self-consciousness
• Indexicals
• Quasi-Indexicals
• Classical (tripartite) Definition of Knowledge
• Self-Knowledge
• Self-consciousness