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What is Identity?

What is Identity?. Metaphysical Considerations. The Problem of Personal Identity. Is it possible that we change who we are? Can we lose our sense of self? Do we always remain the same person, no matter how much we change? What kind of change can bring our existence to an end?

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What is Identity?

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  1. What is Identity? Metaphysical Considerations

  2. The Problem of Personal Identity • Is it possible that we change who we are? • Can we lose our sense of self? • Do we always remain the same person, no matter how much we change? • What kind of change can bring our existence to an end? • Is physical death the end of us? Questions About Personal Identity

  3. Continuity and Change • Are we bananas? • That is, do we undergo continuous change (from green to yellow to brown)? • But still remain ourselves? • Are we one continuous thing? • Are we caterpillars? • That is, do we change into something else (from caterpillar to butterfly)? • Are you a succession of different selves?

  4. When did I start to exist? • What kind of changes can you undergo and still be the same person? • Did I start being me when I was born? • Did I start to exist when I acquired cognitive abilities as a toddler?

  5. What do we mean by same? • Qualitative identity • Identical twins • The same car • Things that look the same & have the same properties • Numerical identity • Hey! I just saw someone riding the same bike that was stolen from my garage last week… • One and the same thing…

  6. 4 Theories About Persistence Through Time Do We Persist Through Time?

  7. Illusion Theory • No self persists through time • We change from one moment to the next • We are constantly becoming a new person • Associated with David Hume

  8. Body Theory • We persist through time as long was we have the same (numerical) body • Same body, same person

  9. Soul Theory • We persist through time as long as we have the same soul • Same soul, same person

  10. Memory Theory • We persist through time as long as we can remember something from our past life stages • If we have over-lapping memories the same numerical person continues to exist • Associated with John Locke

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