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What mistake does Miller make in his argument, according to Weirob?
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Miller assumes that an identically described future person can be numerically identical to Weirob even after her physical death, which she disputes.
What philosophical issue does the tissue box debate embrace beyond simple identity?
The debate highlights issues in reconciling bodily continuity with identity over time, crucial for personal identity discussions.
Describe an inference that can be made using numeric identity.
If A is numerically identical to B, then any attribute of A must also be true of B.
What specific task does Weirob challenge Miller with regarding the afterlife?
She wants Miller to provide a convincing philosophical argument that allows for her to experience an afterlife despite physical disintegration.
In what way will the subsequent lecture expand the discussion on identity and the afterlife?
The next lecture will delve into mind-body dualist views and the concept of the soul as a potential solution to identity problems raised by Weirob.
What are the two strategies for demonstrating the possibility of an afterlife discussed in the dialogue?
Imaginability and conceivability.
Why does Weirob reject Miller's claim about the possibility of an afterlife based on physical degradation?
She argues that future experiences of a 'person' after her bodily disintegration would not be numerically identical to her.
What does Weirob see as the key obstacle to Miller's demonstration of the afterlife?
The contradiction involved in imagining personal experiences after total physical decomposition.
Define qualitative identity and provide an example.
Qualitative identity refers to exact similarity or likeness; for example, two identical twins or matching golf balls.
Explain Miller's first attempt to convince Weirob of the afterlife possibility.
Miller attempts to show that an afterlife is imaginable, hoping that if it could be vividly pictured, it might be possible.
How does the concept of disintegration pose a philosophical challenge to the belief in an afterlife?
Disintegration implies the loss of physical continuity, which challenges the idea of personal identity carrying into an afterlife.
Who are the three main characters in John Perry's dialogue?
Gretchen Weirob, Sam Miller, and Dave Cohen.
What is numeric identity, and how does it differ from qualitative identity?
Numeric identity refers to something being the same as itself; it differs from qualitative identity as it focuses on being one and the same entity, like Mark Twain being Samuel Clemens.
What is the significance of the tissue box analogy in understanding identity?
It illustrates the difference between qualitative identity (exact similarity) and numeric identity (identical self-sameness).
How does Weirob's argument challenge the concept of a soul or spirit maintaining personal identity?
Weirob argues that without the same physical body, a supposed soul cannot be considered numerically identical to her current identity.
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