Philosopher's Autobiography: A Qualitative Study

Throughout the ages philosophers have examined their own lives in an attempt both to find some meaning and to explain the roots of their philosophical perspectives. This volume is an introduction to philosophical autobiography, a rich but hitherto ignored literary genre that questions the self, its social context, and existence in general. The author analyzes representative narratives from antiquity to postmodernity, focusing in particular on three case studies: the autobiographies of St. Augustine, Rousseau, and Sartre. Through the study of these exemplary texts, philosophical reflection on the self emerges as a valid alternative to Freudian psychoanalysis and as a way of promoting self-renewal and change.

Examines philosophical autobiography as a literary genre and an alternative to Freudian psychoanalysis.

SHLOMIT C. SCHUSTER is an independent scholar and lecturer based in Jerusalem. She is the author of Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy (Praeger, 1999) and several scholarly articles, as well as the managing editor of the Journal of Radical Psychology.