The first book synthesizing the many different topics that surround the issue of personal identity, this text makes an important contribution to the philosophy of personal identity and mind, and to epistemology.

Preface

ix

1 The problem and its place in philosophy

1

(19)

The problem of personal identity

1

(2)

What is a person?

3

(9)

What is it for the same person to persist through time?

12

(1)

The methodology of thought-experiments

13

(5)

Why is personal identity important?

18

(2)

2 Animalism and reductionism

20

(21)

Animalism

20

(1)

An argument for animalism

21

(1)

The animalist's argument rebuffed

22

(3)

Models of reductionism

25

(15)

Conclusion

40

(1)

3 Criteria of personal identity

41

(17)

The range of criteria

41

(2)

The physical criterion

43

(9)

The psychological criterion

52

(4)

Conclusion

56

(2)

4 Fission

58

(13)

The importance of Fission

58

(1)

Six responses to Fission

59

(8)

The best candidate theory of personal identity

67

(2)

Some comments on the best candidate theory

69

(1)

The lesson of Fission

70

(1)

5 Identity and vagueness

71

(12)

The commitment to vagueness

71

(2)

Evans' proof

73

(1)

Evans' proof examined

74

(6)

Evans' proof and Kripke's proof

80

(1)

Conclusion

81

(2)

6 Parfit and `what matters'

83

(12)

Persons and value theory

83

(1)

A new value theory?

84

(2)

Self-concern and special concern

86

(2)

Four arguments for the new value theory

88

(6)

Conclusion

94

(1)

7 Anscombe on `I'

95

(14)

Introduction

95

(2)

The common-sense view of `I'

97

(1)

Two arguments against the common-sense view

98

(8)

Anscombe's positive view

106

(1)

Supporting the referential view

107

(1)

Conclusion

107

(2)

8 Wittgenstein on `I'

109

(14)

Introduction

109

(2)

Wittgenstein and the `as subject' use of `I'

111

(3)

Running repairs to the `as subject' l `as object' distinction

114

(3)

The status of the `as subject' use

117

(1)

Interpreting Wittgenstein on avowals: reference, knowledge and authority

118

(3)

Conclusion

121

(2)

Notes

123

(9)

Bibliography

132

(2)

Index

134

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