It is natural to think that self-knowledge is gained through introspection, whereby we somehow peer inward and detect our mental states. However, so-called transparency theories emphasize our capacity to peer outward at the world, hence beyond our minds, in the pursuit of self-knowledge. For all their popularity in recent decades, transparency theories have also met with myriad challenges.

This volume presents new perspectives on transparency-theoretic approaches to self-knowledge. It addresses many under-explored dimensions of transparency theories and considers their wider implications for epistemology, philosophy of mind, and psychology. Some chapters in this volume aim to deepen our understanding of key themes at the heart of transparency theories, such as the ways in which transparent self-knowledge is properly “first-personal” or “non-alienated”. Other chapters offer arguments for extending transparency accounts of self-knowledge to different kinds of mental states and phenomena, such as memory, actions, social groups, and credences. Finally, there are chapters in the volume which discuss interesting relationships between transparency theories, projection, second-order sincerity, and Moore’s Paradox.

This book will appeal to scholars and advanced students working in epistemology, philosophy of mind, and psychology. 

chapter | 14 pages  By Adam Andreotta,  Benjamin Winokur

Thinking through Transparency

An Exploration of Self-Knowledge

chapter 1 | 23 pages  By Markos Valaris

Evans on Transparency and Thinking of Oneself

chapter 2 | 36 pages  By Ryan Cox

Models of Self-Knowledge

From Inference and Self-Scanning to Transparency and Rational Deliberation

chapter 3 | 21 pages  By Martin F. Fricke

Transparency Theories versus Other Accounts of Self-Knowledge

Do They Compete or Complement Each Other?

chapter 4 | 20 pages  By Quassim Cassam

Evans on Self-Knowledge

chapter 5  | 27 pages  By Adam Andreotta

Transparency, Moore's Paradox, and the Concept of Belief

chapter 6 | 24 pages  By Casey Doyle

Alienation, Self-Blindness, and the Concept of Belief

chapter 7 | 26 pages  By Naomi Kloosterboer

Transparency and Commitment

The Case of Substantial Self-Knowledge

chapter 8 | 21 pages  By Benjamin Winokur

Transparency and Memory

chapter 9 | 22 pages  By Ted Parent

Knowledge of One's Own Credences

chapter 10 | 16 pages  By Lauren Ashwell

Projection, Desire, and Transparency

chapter 11 | 22 pages  By Jordi Fernández

Transparent Knowledge of One's Own Actions

chapter 12 | 20 pages  By Cristina Borgoni, Manolo Pinedo

Transparency and the Second Person

Epistemic Intimacy in Self-Knowledge and Knowledge of Other Minds

chapter 13 | 22 pages  By Lukas Schwengerer

Transparent Self-Knowledge for Social Groups