Philosophy 100, Fall 2006

Personal Identity Handout 2



An argument against (ST) based on the parable of the Prince and the Cobbler:

	1. 	If (ST) is true, then the tall guy wearing the crown after the BST 
		procedure is identical to the tall guy wearing the crown before the 
		procedure.
	
	2. 	The tall guy wearing the crown after the BST procedure is not identical 
		to the tall guy wearing the crown before the procedure.
	
	3. Therefore, (ST) is not true.
	
	

The Memory Theory of Personal Identity (MT):

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and only if at 
	time t2, person y can remember "from the inside" something that happened to 
	person x.
	


	The first set of definitions:
	
	
D1: S really remembers something =df. S seems to remember that thing, and that 
    thing happened to S.

D2: S merely seems to remember something =df. S seems to remember that thing, 
    and that thing did not happen to S.



	The second set of definitions:    
    

D3: S really remembers something =df. S seems to remember that thing, and this 
	apparent memory is caused in the right sort of way.

D4: S merely seems to remember something =df. S seems to remember that thing, 
	and this apparent memory is not caused in the right sort of way.
	


Gretchen's Argument Against (MT) + D3 + D4 based on the Fission Scenario:

	1. 	If (MT) + D3 + D4 is true, then there are two people in heaven who are 
		identical to Gretchen Weirob.

	2.	It is not the case that there are two people in heaven who are identical 
		to Gretchen Weirob.

	3.	Therefore, (MT) + D3 + D4 is false.