Parfit’s View of Personal Identity
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document in english
linguistics
presentation
published 07/08/2007
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level : Advanced
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SummaryI intend to explicate Derek Parfit’s view regarding personal identity as non-branching psychological continuity as well as some of its ethical and emotional implications. In addition, I will present Parfit’s split-brain transplant thought experiment as evidence for his view that psychological continuity provides a criterion for identity. Further, I will discuss Bernard Williams’ rebuttal against Parfit’s view that psychological continuity is a criterion of identity. Finally, I will address the unresolved issue of the importance of personal identity surrounding the debate over the acceptance or rejection of Parfit’s view of personal identity.
Table of Contents
- Parfit's work rejects two 'common sense' views regarding problems of personal identity
- Parfit expresses the first standard view of personal identity
- Parfit defines identity as an all-or-nothing, one-one relation
- However, human behavior suggests there is a substantive self underneath
- Parfit employs a series of 'science fiction' thought experiments to defend his radical view of personal identity
- Acceptance of Parfit's theory of personal identity hinges on whether or not questions of personal identity are as nonsensical as Parfit frames them to be
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