Personal Identity

Ronald F. White, Ph.D.Professor of Philosophy

College of Mount St. Joseph

Introduction

• What is “identity?”• What is “personal identity?”

The Puzzle

• Personal identity– Bodies– Minds– Sociality

• Immortality

Historical–

• Plato• Aristotle• Hippocrates-• Judeo-Christian• Descartes

Personal Identity Theory

• Empiricist – Idealist • Bundle Theory: “I am a bundle of ideas.”• Memory, Dreams, Hallucinations• Idealism:

– Subjectivism– Transcenentalism

– Materialist • Bundle Theory: “I am a bundle of bodily functions.”

Personal Immortality?

• Survival of what?– Individual

• Body– Individual body

• Soul– Individual soul

• Ideas– Individual ideas (memories)

• Collectives– Civilizations– Institutions

Arguments for and Against Immortality

• Bodily Immortality– For: Genetic Immortality– Against: Thermodynamics

• Mental (spiritual) Immortality– For: – Against?

• Is it rational to fear death?