Since Socrates, and through Descartes onwards, the problems of self-knowledge have been central to philosophy's understanding of itself. This book argues for a reconception of the first-person and its claims. It develops a view of self-knowledge that concentrates on the self as agent rather than spectator. "Authority and Estrangement is simply one of the most striking and original books in the Philosophy of Mind written in the last ten years. It is a terrific book. It has been anticipated for a long time, and it will not disappoint. In quality of content, it is first rate through and through. Moreover, it is positively exciting to read."-George Wilson, University of California, Davis