Scribd
Upload
129 views

Theories of Personal Identity

The document discusses three theories of personal identity: 1) Animalism/Body Theory - a person is identical to their physical body, and their identity exists as long as their body functions. If the body dies, the person's identity ceases to exist. 2) Soul Theory - a person's identity resides in their immortal soul. As long as the soul exists, the person's identity persists even if the body changes. However, the nature of the soul cannot be determined. 3) Memory Theory - a person's identity is defined by their experience memories. If memories are lost or changed, personal identity is lost. However, memories can be unreliable. Responsibility for past actions also becomes unclear without memories.

Uploaded by

jamesdeignan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
129 views

Theories of Personal Identity

The document discusses three theories of personal identity: 1) Animalism/Body Theory - a person is identical to their physical body, and their identity exists as long as their body functions. If the body dies, the person's identity ceases to exist. 2) Soul Theory - a person's identity resides in their immortal soul. As long as the soul exists, the person's identity persists even if the body changes. However, the nature of the soul cannot be determined. 3) Memory Theory - a person's identity is defined by their experience memories. If memories are lost or changed, personal identity is lost. However, memories can be unreliable. Responsibility for past actions also becomes unclear without memories.

Uploaded by

jamesdeignan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

What is a human being?

Personal Identity Theories

Animalism/Body Theory
A person is a particular kind of animal, a
human animal.
A person retains an identity for as long as the
body retains its function.
A person is identical to its body. One person =
one body.
If a persons body dies, that persons identity
no longer exists.

Animalism
Can you think of a few strengths and
weaknesses of this theory?

Animalism
Strength
DNA
Name
Location
Legal documents (ss#, birth
certificate, medical records,
drivers license,

weakness
Multiple personality
disorders
Siamese twins
Reincarnation

Soul Theory
A persons identity resides in that persons
soul.
As long as your soul exists, your identity exists.
The soul is a thinking thing.

Soul theory
Strengths
Assumes there is a life
beyond the physical limits
of the body.
Solves the problem of
change

weaknesses
What is it?
Cannot be perceived
How can it be identical to
anything if we do not know
what it is?

Memory Theory
Identical persons are those who share at least
one experience memory.
Experience memories are unique to the
individual (first kiss)
Experience memories make up our identity.

Memory Theory
strengths
A person may inhabit more
than one body., making
reincarnation possible.
More than one person may
inhabit one body (multiple
personality disorder)
we cannot be held
responsible for what we do
not remember doing?

weaknesses
we cannot be held
responsible for what we do
not remember doing?
If you forget, you may no
longer be you.
Not reliable

Types of memory
Direct: a memory you can consciously recall.
Indirect: one that an earlier stage of you can
recall.
real memory: a memory that did happen.
Apparent memory: a memory that did not
happen or that was not caused by the event it
records. Non reliable memories.

Insufficiency objection
Although memories are important of personal
identity, two other factors help create our
identity as well:
Desires: what we care about.
Intentions: what we plan to do.
Losing either or both could be as devastating
as losing a memory

You might also like