Philosophy 100, Fall 2006

Personal Identity Handout 3



The non-branching memory theory of personal identity (MT-NB):

	Person x at time t1 is identical to person y at time t2 if and only if (i) y 
	at time t2 can remember "from the inside" something that happened to x; and 
	(ii) no one else at time t2 can remember "from the inside" something that 
	happened to x.



An argument against (MT-NB) based on the premature resurrection scenario:


	1.	If (MT-NB) is true, then Gretchen Weirob ceases to exist on the second 
		night.

	2.	Gretchen Weirob does not cease to exist on the second night.

	3.	Therefore, (MT-NB) is false.
	
	

An argument against (ST) based on the case of Julia North:

	1.	If (ST) is true, then the person who leaves the hospital a few weeks 
		after the operation, and who looks like Mary Frances did before the 
		operation, is not identical to Julia North.

	2.	The person who leaves the hospital a few weeks after the operation, and 
		who looks like Mary Francis did before the operation, is identical to
		Julia North.

	3.	Therefore, (ST) is false.