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Parfit - What We Believe Ourselves To Be
(Text as at 29/12/2019 12:57:36)
This write-up is a review of "Parfit (Derek) - What We Believe Ourselves To Be".
Abstract: Discusses numerical identity1, or being one and the same, qualitative identity, or being exactly similar, personal identity, or what is involved in our continued existence over time. According to the Physical Criterion, our identity over time consists in the continued existence of enough of our brain. According to the Psychological Criterion, our identity consists in overlapping chains of psychological continuity and connectedness. The chapter discusses how we are inclined to believe that, even in purely imagined cases, our identity must be determinate. When we ask – Would I still exist? Would that future person be me? it seems that it must always have an answer.
Sections
- 75. Simple Teletransportation and the Branch-Line Case
- 76. Qualitative and Numerical identity2
- 77. The Physical Criterion of Personal Identity
- 78. The Psychological Criterion
- 79. The Other Views
75. Simple Teletransportation and the Branch-Line Case
76. Qualitative and Numerical identity3
77. The Physical Criterion of Personal Identity
78. The Psychological Criterion
79. The Other Views
… Further details to be supplied4
Table of the Previous 2 Versions of this Note:
| Note last updated |
Reading List for this Topic |
Parent Topic |
| 29/12/2019 12:57:36 |
None available |
What are We? |
Summary of Notes Referenced by This Note
To access information, click on one of the links in the table above.
Summary of Notes Citing This Note
To access information, click on one of the links in the table above.
Authors, Books & Papers Citing this Note
| Author |
Title |
Medium |
Extra Links |
Read? |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Chapter 01 (Introduction) |
Paper  |
2, 3 |
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Chapter 02 (What Are We?) |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Chapter 04 (Basic Metaphysical Issues) |
Paper |
2 |
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments) |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Numerical Idenity |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Parfit |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Psychological Continuity |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Psychological Criterion |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - References |
Paper |
2 |
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Similarity |
Paper |
|
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - Teletransportation |
Paper |
2 |
Yes |
| Todman (Theo) |
Thesis - What Are We? |
Paper |
|
Yes |
References & Reading List
| Author |
Title |
Medium |
Source |
Read? |
| Parfit (Derek) |
Reasons and Persons |
Book - Cited (via Paper Cited)  |
Bibliographical details to be supplied |
Yes |
| Parfit (Derek) |
What We Believe Ourselves To Be |
Paper - Cited |
Parfit - Reasons and Persons, January 1986, pp. 199-219(21). |
Yes |
Text Colour Conventions
- Blue: Text by me; © Theo Todman, 2026