Do we always remain the same?

Are human beings:1.Simply advanced animals2.Complicated machines3.God like agents who shape the Future.

In order to arrive at an understanding of personalidentity or ‘self’ we need to consider the variouschanges people go through in their lives.

Previously Cassius ClayChanged his religionChanged his nameWent from legendary world

champion to old man suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

In everyday conversation we often refer to someone as if they’ve changed. For example a friend changes their social group and no longer hangs round with you – Do we think they’ve changed? Nana

Or the classic divorce situation where a husband or wife wants a divorce on the grounds that their partner is no longer the same person they married to 10 years ago.

PRESENT STAN FUTURE STAN

Stan’s encounter with his future self raises questions and issues of personal identity. What makes me, me? Why do I consider myself to be the same person I was when at infant school? What is it that stays the same as time passes? Is it my body? Is it my mind? Or am I nothing but a bundle of changing cells, thoughts and emotions?

Grew up in the ‘hood’ Los Angeles Founded a gang the ‘Crips’ 1981 convicted of 4 killings in cold blood. Placed on death rowHowever, during his time in prison heunderwent a transformation. He wrote children’s books He spoke out against gangs and violence He inspired ‘Snoop Dogg’ and other Rap Artists He wrote the following .....

Consider the following examples as True or False1. If, after a serious accident, a person suffers from

amnesia, then he has lost his sense of self and he effectively starts a new life.

2. Even if we cant remember doing something, we are still responsible for what we have done.

3. The person who has had a successful sex change operation is not the same person.

4. It is logically possible to survive ones death and continue ones life in a new spiritual body in heaven

5. We change from moment to moment and become a new person every day.

6. What really makes someone a person is not ones body but rather ones soul.

1. Illusion Theory – There is no self that persists through time. We change from one moment to the next and turn constantly into a new person. To think something in us remains the same is an illusion.

2. Body Theory – We remain the same person as long as we have the same body.

3. Soul Theory – We are the same person as long as we have the same soul.

4. Memory Theory – We are the same person as were in the past as long as we can remember at least something from that past.

Each person to produce a power point presentation and information handout on each of the following: (Group 1-4) The book is: Ultimate Questions: Thinking About Philosophy (N. Rauhut 2nd edition)

1. Illusion Theory pgs 118-1222. Body Theory pgs 122-1253. Soul Theory pgs 125-1274. Memory Theory – 127-134

The skill is to get detail into your work whilst keeping it short andconcise. Include criticisms of each theory. You will be presenting

your powerpoint next lesson.