Philosophy 1050: Introduction to Philosophy Week 3: Personal Identity II

Personal Identity: Perry Weirob’s Criterion: (p. 3): “Survival means that … some time in the future, there will be someone who will experience, who will see and touch and smell – or at the very least, think and reason and remember. And this person will be me.” Weirob’s Criterion: (p. 3): “Survival means that … some time in the future, there will be someone who will experience, who will see and touch and smell – or at the very least, think and reason and remember. And this person will be me.”

Personal Identity: Perry Criterion for Personal ldentity (p. 3): “This person will be related to me in such a way that it is correct for me to anticipate, to look forward to, those future experiences. And I am related to her in such a way that it will be right for her to remember what I have thought and done, to feel remorse for what I have done wrong, and pride in what I have done right.”

Personal Identity: The Soul Weirob’s Question (p. 8): If we cannot observe (see, hear or sense) the soul, then how can we know that the same soul exists over time in the body which we do observe? How do we know this even in our own case? Weirob’s Question (p. 8): If we cannot observe (see, hear or sense) the soul, then how can we know that the same soul exists over time in the body which we do observe? How do we know this even in our own case?

Personal Identity: The teleportation case When I step into the machine, it will scan the exact pattern of molecules that make up my body and brain When I step into the machine, it will scan the exact pattern of molecules that make up my body and brain The person who steps out of the machine on the other end will be an exact replica of me. This person will look, think, and behave exactly as I do. The person who steps out of the machine on the other end will be an exact replica of me. This person will look, think, and behave exactly as I do.

Personal Identity: The teleportation case But will this person be me?

Personal Identity: Memory and person-stages One response (Miller, p. 25): Perhaps we don’t need to find one thing that stays the same over time, but only stages that are connected in the right way. We might speak of “person stages” that are different over time, but are connected in the right way to constitute a person. One response (Miller, p. 25): Perhaps we don’t need to find one thing that stays the same over time, but only stages that are connected in the right way. We might speak of “person stages” that are different over time, but are connected in the right way to constitute a person. A question: What is “the right way?” A question: What is “the right way?”

Personal Identity: Memory and person-stages Miller’s answer (p. 26): For a person at one time to be the same as a person at an earlier time, is just for the later person to remember having been the earlier one. Miller’s answer (p. 26): For a person at one time to be the same as a person at an earlier time, is just for the later person to remember having been the earlier one. An objection (p. 27): What about false memories? An objection (p. 27): What about false memories?

Personal Identity: The Brain/Body Transplant (p. 38) The BRAIN of Julia North is transplanted into the BODY of Mary Frances Beaudine. (p. 38) The BRAIN of Julia North is transplanted into the BODY of Mary Frances Beaudine. Who is the survivor? Is it North, whose attitudes, beliefs, and judgments remain? Or is it Beaudine, whose body remains? Who is the survivor? Is it North, whose attitudes, beliefs, and judgments remain? Or is it Beaudine, whose body remains? Who decides? Who decides?

Summary We have assessed various ways of answering the question “what makes me, me, over time?” We have assessed various ways of answering the question “what makes me, me, over time?” –Body –Immaterial Soul –Psychological continuity (continuity of memory) –Brain

Summary None of these answers to the question of personal identity is clearly correct. Each one has possible objections and responses None of these answers to the question of personal identity is clearly correct. Each one has possible objections and responses But by thinking about these answers and the responses, we are getting clearer on what we ourselves think and why we think so (the reasoning and thought behind our everyday assumptions and beliefs). But by thinking about these answers and the responses, we are getting clearer on what we ourselves think and why we think so (the reasoning and thought behind our everyday assumptions and beliefs).

Thinking through opinions and reasons In philosophy, we often begin with opinions, what our views or positions are on different questions. But we don’t end there. The idea is to start with what we think, and then reflect about the reasons for why we think so. In doing this, we come to a better understanding of complex issues, and also of who we, ourselves are. In philosophy, we often begin with opinions, what our views or positions are on different questions. But we don’t end there. The idea is to start with what we think, and then reflect about the reasons for why we think so. In doing this, we come to a better understanding of complex issues, and also of who we, ourselves are.

Sometimes it is helpful to use “thought- experiments” or different scenarios to better understand our reasons for more general views or positions. Here are a few such “thought-experiments” or scenarios that we’ve already discussed relating to personal identity. Let’s see how we can connect what we might think about them to more general philosophical views. Sometimes it is helpful to use “thought- experiments” or different scenarios to better understand our reasons for more general views or positions. Here are a few such “thought-experiments” or scenarios that we’ve already discussed relating to personal identity. Let’s see how we can connect what we might think about them to more general philosophical views.

For each thought-experiment, fill out each blank. You may use both “internal evidence” (look at the text) and “external evidence” (thinking for yourself about what the characters think and why). For each thought-experiment, fill out each blank. You may use both “internal evidence” (look at the text) and “external evidence” (thinking for yourself about what the characters think and why).