Adherent Apologetics Personal Ontology and Life after Death | Dr. Andrew Brenner | Ep. #279
Apr 13, 2024
Dr. Andrew Brenner, an Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University and author of "Personal Ontology, Mystery, and Its Consequences," dives deep into fascinating philosophical themes. He explores personal identity, questioning how we remain ourselves amid change. Brenner discusses substance dualism and its implications for concepts like resurrection, while examining the intersection of reincarnation, memory, and physical existence. The intriguing conversation even touches on digital consciousness, probing if an uploaded mind truly retains its identity.
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Personal Ontology
- Personal ontology explores what humans are, not just their identity over time.
- The book argues against three views: non-existence, simple objects (souls), and composite objects (bodies/brains).
Self-Persistence
- Some argue that if we were souls, we couldn't know we're the same over time.
- Others argue against our existence because our minds and bodies constantly change.
Physical vs. Non-Physical Self
- The self persists over time, even if our physical components change.
- This persistence doesn't require a non-physical soul, but it's compatible with one.
