Lecture Notes on Perry’s Dialogue - The Second Night

Overview

• Continuation: This lecture continues from the first night of Perry’s dialogue.
• Main Focus: Discussion on personal identity, examining different criteria for survival beyond death.

Key Concepts

1. Soul Criterion (First Night)

   • Sam Miller's Argument: Survival after death by the soul criterion.
   • Gretchen Weirob's Objections: Soul identity can't be proved since souls are not observable.

2. Memory Criterion (Second Night)

   • John Locke's Position: Personal identity based on memory and connected consciousness.
   • Miller's Shift: Abandons soul criterion and focuses on memory as a basis for personal identity.

Key Arguments

Memory vs Body Identity

• Miller's Argument
  • Waking up with a different body scenario shows identity is not just bodily.
  • Personal identity more linked to memory than physical continuity.
• Weirob’s Agreement
  • Acknowledges memory allows identification without physical examination.

Thought Experiments

• River Analogy
  • Identity of a river or a baseball game relies on connection of parts, not identical parts.
• Chess Game Example
  • Continuation of moves through time forms identity, similar to personal identity through memory.

Problems with Memory Criterion

1. Real vs Seeming Memory

   • Weirob’s Objection: People can seem to remember without true memory, like delusions.
   • Need for Causal Connection: Memory must be caused in the right way, not merely seem to remember.

2. Cohen's Intervention

   • Causal Process: Personal identity reliant on causally connected memories.
   • Critique of Memory: Memory is unreliable and often altered over time.

Further Complications

• Heavenly Duplication
  • If God duplicates a person in Heaven, who is the real identity?
  • Weirob’s Challenge: If duplicates exist, identity becomes questionable.

Conclusion

• Miller's Argument: Memory and identity are complex, and duplicating identity leads to contradictions.
• Weirob’s Position: Identity is tied to the physical body; once it dies, identity ends.
• Reflection: Encouraged to ponder these philosophical ideas critically.

Next Steps

• Future Modules: Brief mention of a third night but moving to new topics in upcoming modules.
• Critical Thinking: Emphasizes importance of engaging with philosophical arguments.

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Study Tips

• Review Previous Lecture: Familiarize with the soul criterion discussed prior.
• Consider Thought Experiments: Reflect on personal identity through scenarios given.
• Engage with Philosophical Questions: Analyze arguments critically for a deeper understanding.