Is There an Enduring Self? Chapter 2 ~ 2.4

Introduction Are you the same person as you were when you were born? Are you the same person as you were when you were born? The same person as yesterday? The same person as yesterday? Adolescents often feel the need to “find themselves”. This also applies to adults of varying ages. Adolescents often feel the need to “find themselves”. This also applies to adults of varying ages.

Traditional Western view assumes that you are the same person today as you were earlier in your life; it assumes that humans are selves that endure through time. assumes that you are the same person today as you were earlier in your life; it assumes that humans are selves that endure through time.

Exceptions But we also sometimes say that a person has changed over time; if, for example, the personality changed as a result of brain damage, or Alzheimer’s disease. But we also sometimes say that a person has changed over time; if, for example, the personality changed as a result of brain damage, or Alzheimer’s disease. Marriage: people divorce citing that they aren’t the same person as when they married. Marriage: people divorce citing that they aren’t the same person as when they married.

The “Personal Identity Problem” Philosophers try to account for the fact that people do change by trying to answer the question: Philosophers try to account for the fact that people do change by trying to answer the question: In what sense am I the same person I was when I was born? In what sense am I the same person I was when I was born?or What makes a person be the same person from one moment to the next? What makes a person be the same person from one moment to the next?

Answer to Identity Problem What keeps us the same is the “continuity of the body”. What keeps us the same is the “continuity of the body”. From day to day, the body remains the same, even if things change slightly. From day to day, the body remains the same, even if things change slightly. Example, at a crime scene a criminal leaves his/her fingerprints, DNA, etc. 10 years later, the criminal is the same person. Example, at a crime scene a criminal leaves his/her fingerprints, DNA, etc. 10 years later, the criminal is the same person.

Critics Someone who has brain damage would still be the same person by this definition. Someone who has brain damage would still be the same person by this definition. If it’s the body that keeps us the same person, what about people who believe in the afterlife. The afterlife could not exist. If it’s the body that keeps us the same person, what about people who believe in the afterlife. The afterlife could not exist.

Critics In thought experiments where a mind is put in a new body, we say the body is now the person whose mind was transferred, not the person whose body was used. In thought experiments where a mind is put in a new body, we say the body is now the person whose mind was transferred, not the person whose body was used. Therefore, bodily continuity does NOT make the person the same over time. Therefore, bodily continuity does NOT make the person the same over time.

Conclusions Based on such considerations, some philosophers conclude that what remains the same is an immaterial “soul” or “mind” Based on such considerations, some philosophers conclude that what remains the same is an immaterial “soul” or “mind”

The Soul as an Enduring Self The Traditional Western view holds that in each living human body is a soul; this is what makes “me”. The Traditional Western view holds that in each living human body is a soul; this is what makes “me”. Descartes held this view, holding that it was the continuity of his thinking mind that made him remain the same person. Descartes held this view, holding that it was the continuity of his thinking mind that made him remain the same person. But, how do we know that a person’s mind continues to be the same over time? But, how do we know that a person’s mind continues to be the same over time?

Critics Some object that we can know that a person remains the same person from one day to another without being able to see his/her soul. Some object that we can know that a person remains the same person from one day to another without being able to see his/her soul.

Memory as the Source of the Enduring Self John Locke held that Descartes was mistaken John Locke held that Descartes was mistaken Locke’s thought experiment: if one soul migrated to another body and lost the memories that it formally had, we would not say the person whose soul it was continued to exist. Locke’s thought experiment: if one soul migrated to another body and lost the memories that it formally had, we would not say the person whose soul it was continued to exist. From this, Locke concludes that what makes a person endure over time is memory. From this, Locke concludes that what makes a person endure over time is memory.

Examples Someone who has amnesia and forgets who they were in the past begins a new life. They are no longer the same person. Someone who has amnesia and forgets who they were in the past begins a new life. They are no longer the same person. Police accuse a man of robbing a bank. The man honestly does not remember. Most people would agree he should not be responsible. Police accuse a man of robbing a bank. The man honestly does not remember. Most people would agree he should not be responsible.

Memory as the Source of the Enduring Self But in response to this view, Thomas Reid argued that Locke produced contradictions. But in response to this view, Thomas Reid argued that Locke produced contradictions. For example, Tom at age 20 remembers being Tom at age 10, and so is the same person, Tom at age 30 remembers being Tom at age 20, but not being Tom at age 10. Thus, Tom at age 30 is both the same person as the person who was Tom at age 10, and is not the same person who was Tom at age 10! For example, Tom at age 20 remembers being Tom at age 10, and so is the same person, Tom at age 30 remembers being Tom at age 20, but not being Tom at age 10. Thus, Tom at age 30 is both the same person as the person who was Tom at age 10, and is not the same person who was Tom at age 10!

Also, what if someone cannot remember everything that he/she did? Also, what if someone cannot remember everything that he/she did? What did I say at What did I say at the beginning of this presentation? the beginning of this presentation?

The End Read The No-Self View Read The No-Self View Answer questions #6, 7 Answer questions #6, 7

The No-Self View Some views of human nature deny the existence of a self. Some views of human nature deny the existence of a self. Central to Buddhist thought is the idea that all things are composite and transient, and so nothing abides permanently as an individual. Central to Buddhist thought is the idea that all things are composite and transient, and so nothing abides permanently as an individual. The self, like everything else, is in a constant state of flux and disintegration; it is transient. As a permanent entity, then, the self does not exist. The self, like everything else, is in a constant state of flux and disintegration; it is transient. As a permanent entity, then, the self does not exist.

The No-Self View David Hume had a very similar view. He held that we cannot claim that there is an inner self because all we experience is a constant stream of sensations, and no determinate self. David Hume had a very similar view. He held that we cannot claim that there is an inner self because all we experience is a constant stream of sensations, and no determinate self. These views do have problems, for it is not clear why we should be concerned with our future interests if they are correct. These views do have problems, for it is not clear why we should be concerned with our future interests if they are correct.