The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast PREMIUM-Ep. 261: Derek Parfit on Personal Identity (Part Two)
Jan 25, 2021
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Continuity vs Identity Tension
- Parfit shows psychological continuity and physical continuity can each seem sufficient for identity yet each can be challenged by counterexamples.
- This tension motivates a reductionist move to dissolve traditional personal identity into continuities instead of a separate 'self'.
Combined Spectrum Undermines Sharp Identity
- The combined spectrum replaces a person cell-by-cell until a replica appears, creating an arbitrary point to draw identity boundaries.
- Parfit uses this arbitrariness to argue that the concept of strict personal identity is senseless in many cases.
Subjectivity vs Reductionism
- Non-reductionists respond that identity concerns the subject of experience, which persists despite qualitative or physical change.
- Parfit counters by treating many identity questions as indeterminate rather than settled yes/no facts.