There have been many books published on acting, actor training, and practical theories for preparing for a role, but none of these books have ever looked philosophically at the language and the concepts that we use when we talk aboutacting. The Philosophical Actor is the first attempt to grapple with the fundamental questions of truth, art, and human nature unexamined in past treatments, from the first great essay by Diderot to the exhaustive system described by Stanislavski. With wide appeal to actors, directors, acting students, acting teachers, and trainers, Donna Soto-Morettini looks at acting theory in light of the `cognitive revolution' and draws from recent advances in cognitive science, philosophy and psychology to introduce innovative ways of thinking about acting.<BR><BR>Donna Soto-Morettini has served as Director of Drama for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Head of Acting for Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and Head of Acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She is currently Casting Director and Performance Coach for Andrew Lloyd Webber and the BBC