Paul Ricoeur has been hailed as one of the most important thinkers of the century. Oneself as Another, the clearest account of his "philosophical ethics," substantiates this position and lays the groundwork for a metaphysics of morals. Focusing on the concept of personal identity, Ricoeur develops a hermeneutics of the self that charts its epistemological path and ontological status. The central theme here is the concept of personal identity, within which Ricoeur examines three major issues: the idea of self, of identity or sameness, and of relation to that which is not self. His intention is no less than a hermeneutics of the self, and toward this end he accomplishes much. This is not reading for the philosophical novice, but those familiar with Ricoeur's writings, or those who have a thorough understanding of the concepts employed here, will find this a rich and rewarding book. Based on Ricoeur's 1986 Gifford Lectures, this is recommended for academic libraries with comprehensive programs in philosophy. - Terry Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. Paul Ricoeur (1913–2005) was the John Nuveen Professor in the Divinity School, the Department of Philosophy, and the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. He was the author of many books, including Memory, History, Forgetting , Oneself as Another , and the three-volume Time and Narrative , all published by the University of Chicago Press .