Philosophy 100, Fall 2006					

Personal Identity Handout 1




A theory of personal identity is a statement of the form:

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and 
	only if...
	
	

The Exact Resemblance Theory of Personal Identity (ERT)

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and
	only if x, as he is at t1, exactly resembles y, as he is at t2
	(and x and y are both persons).
	
	

The "Baby Bush" argument against (ERT):

	1. 	If (ERT) is true, then the baby Barbara Bush held in her 
		arms in July, 1946 is not identical to the current President
		of the United States.
	
	2. 	The baby Barbara Bush held in her arms in July, 1946 is 
		identical to the current President of the United States.
	
	3. 	Therefore, (ERT) is false.



The Somatic Theory of Personal Identity (ST)

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and
	only if x at t1 is the same living organism as y at t2.
	
	

The Soul Theory of Personal Identity (OT)

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and
	only if x at t1 and y at t2 have the same soul.
	
	
	
Weirob's Argument Against (OT):

	A statement about personal identity =df. A statement of the form 
	"Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2."
	

	1.	If (OT) is true, then no one is ever justified in accepting a
		statement about personal identity.
		
	2. 	It is not the case that no one is ever justified in accepting
		a statement about personal identity.
		
	3. 	Therefore, (OT) is false.
	
	
	
Reasons Weirob offers in favor of Premise 1:

	The impossibility of justification through direct observation.
	
	The impossibility of justification through inference.
	
	The argument based on the "constant-soul-renewal" scenario.