Models of Man
Philosophical Thoughts on Social Action
Cambridge Philosophy Classics Series

All social theorists and philosophers who seek to explain human action have a 'model of man'; a metaphysical view of human nature that requires its own theory of scientific knowledge. In this influential book, Martin Hollis examines the tensions that arise from the differing views of sociologists, economists and psychologists. He then develops a rationalist model of his own which connects personal and social identity through a theory of rational action and a priori knowledge, allowing humans to both act freely and still be a subject for scientific explanation. Presented in a fresh series livery and including a specially commissioned preface written by Geoffrey Hawthorn, Hollis's important work is made available to a new generation of readers.

Preface to this edition Geoffrey Hawthorn; Preface; 1. Two models; Part I. Plastic Man: 2. Nature and nurture; 3. The regularity of the moral world; Part II. Autonomous Man: 4. Life's short comedy; 5. Personal identity and social identity; 6. Elements of action; Part III. Other Minds: 7. The rational and the real; 8. Ideal understanding; 9. Envoi: actor and context; Bibliography; Index of names.

Martin Hollis (1938–98) was a philosopher of the social sciences and game theory and is best known for his rationalism. He was Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia and eventually Pro-Vice-Chancellor until his death in 1998.