Self-Knowledge and Self-Representation

Abstract

In this paper I introduce a centrast between homomorphic and non-homomorphic aacriptiona of informational content to repreaentationa. In the former case there is a mapping from the parts of the representation onto the conatituents of the content. In the latter case, there is not; aome of the conatituenta of the content are settled by background factora . I centrast this diatinction with that between contezt dependent and contezt independent ascriptions of content. I note that in cases where the ascriber of content sharea the background with the agent, one is inclined to ascribe homomorphic content of a sort that does not have a fized truth-value to a representation. Thi1 leads to the notion of relative information. Soma UIIB for relative information are noted. Finally, the di1tinctiona developed are used to distinguish three type& of self-knowledge and account for their relations.