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Personal Identity

Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)

(Text as at 02/06/2019 10:10:34)

(For earlier versions of this Note, see the table at the end)

Abstract



Research Methodology

Links to Notes
  1. Propriety of Thought Experiments3
  2. Principal Examples:-
  3. Transhumanism16
    → Cyborgs17
    → Androids18
    → Chimeras19
  4. Others?


Chapter Introduction
  1. In this chapter we will consider all the usual suspects, as itemised in the list of Notes above.
  2. It is to be noted that some – in particular Commissurotomy – are more actual experiments than thought-experiment, though quite a lot of armchair thinking is involved in working out their import.
  3. Pregnancy and birth in placental mammals might be described as fusion followed by fission.
  4. Multiple Personality Disorder is again – at least allegedly – an existent pathology rather than a Thought Experiment. Moreover, it might be better situated in Chapter 920 as a critique of the idea of an individuating First-Person Perspective21.
  5. Brain Transplants come in various forms. We need to distinguish Whole-Brain Transplants (WBTs) from single or double Cerebrum transplants, and these from brain-tissue transplants, which shade off into Siliconisation and Brain State Transfers.


Main Text
  1. To be supplied22.


Concluding Remarks
  1. Having now discussed Thought Experiments in general, we now in our next Chapter23 turn to the question of Resurrection – the matter that first motivated Locke (and – I suspect - Lynne Rudder Baker and many others) in their discussions of Personal Identity.
  2. This is work in progress24.


Links to Books / Papers to be Addressed25
  1. In this Chapter I will consider the following papers or book chapters (together with some others referenced by these). There are doubtless many more that are relevant and which will be addressed in the course of the thesis, but these are probably sufficient to get us going.
  2. I have segregated the papers by sub-topic, but some would fit into more than one category.
  3. Theory
  4. Brain State Transfers26
  5. Brain Transplants
  6. Commissurotomy
  7. Fission
  8. Fusion
  9. Multiple Personality Disorder
  10. Replication
  11. Siliconisation27
  12. Teletransportation
  13. Transhumanism29
  14. Many aspects of these papers will need to be either ignored or reserved for other chapters.
  15. The motivation for these works is as follows:-
    • To be supplied.


The Cut
  1. There had already been a lot of cutting in the various selections of the original reading list – the reading lists attached to the Notes run on and on – and these items just represent the works in my possession (though I have sought out all that I’ve heard of that look relevant).
  2. However, the items in the lists following were given some attention, and have been culled – at least temporarily – from the lists above, where they originally appeared. I’ve not always given a reason as I’ve not studied them sufficiently closely. But, you have to draw a line somewhere.
  3. I’m well aware that the cut has not been sufficiently rigorous. Further items beyond the items below are likely to be culled when I come to process them.


In-Page Footnotes:

Footnote 25: Footnote 26: Footnote 27: Footnote 28: Footnote 29: Footnote 30: I’ve read this book, but it’s insufficiently philosophical for its arguments – such as they are – to be worth considering as a priority.

Footnote 31: Cover in the next Chapter.

Printable Versions:


Table of the Previous 6 Versions of this Note:

Date Length Title
05/04/2016 23:19:41 6999 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)
13/01/2015 19:07:41 6779 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)
06/11/2014 10:13:26 6758 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)
02/10/2014 17:12:29 5532 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)
22/07/2014 22:23:31 2883 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)
05/07/2014 13:48:00 2278 Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments)


Note last updated Reading List for this Topic Parent Topic
02/06/2019 10:10:34 None available Thesis - Introduction

Summary of Note Links from this Page

Androids Awaiting Attention (Personal Identity) Brain State Transfer Brain Transplants Brains in Vats
Chimera Clones Commissurotomy Cyborgs First-Person Perspective
Fission Fusion Multiple Personality Disorder Pregnancy Replication
Siliconisation Status: Thesis Dashboard (2020: September) Teletransportation Thesis - Chapter 01 (Introduction) Thesis - Chapter 09 (Arguments against the Constitution View)
Thesis - Chapter 11 (Resurrection) Thesis - Method & Form Thought Experiments Transhumanism Twinning

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Summary of Note Links to this Page

Parfit Status: Personal Identity (2020 - June) Status: Priority Task List (2020: September) Status: Summary (2020 - June) Status: Thesis Dashboard (2020: September)
Thesis - Chapter 02 (What are We?) Thesis - Chapter 04 (Basic Metaphysical Issues) Thesis - Chapter 05 (Persistence and Time), 2 Thesis - Chapter 09 (Arguments against the Constitution View) Thesis - Chapter 11 (Resurrection)
Thesis - Introduction        

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Authors, Books & Papers Citing this Note

Author Title Medium Extra Links Read?
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 02 (What Are We?) Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 04 (Basic Metaphysical Issues) Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 05 (Persistence and Time) Paper Medium Quality Abstract 2 Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 09 (Arguments against the Constitution View) Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 10 (Thought Experiments) Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 11 (Resurrection) Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Introduction & Chapter Outlines Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Parfit Paper Medium Quality Abstract   Yes


References & Reading List

Author Title Medium Source Read?
Baars (Bernard), Banks (William) & Newman (James) Essential Sources in the Scientific Study of Consciousness Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 1%
Baillie (James) Commissurotomy and the Unity of Mind Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Baillie (James) - Problems in Personal Identity, 1993, Chapter 7 No
Baillie (James) Methodology Matters Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Baillie (James) - Problems in Personal Identity, 1993, Chapter 5 No
Baillie (James) Problems in Personal Identity Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 68%
Beck (Simon) Back To The Self And The Future Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract South African Journal of Philosophy, Aug98, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p211, 15p; Yes
Bostrom (Nick) Are You Living in a Computer Simulation? Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophical Quarterly, 2003, Vol. 53, No. 211, pp. 243-255 Yes
Bostrom (Nick) How Long Before Superintelligence? Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Personal Website. Yes
Bostrom (Nick) The Simulation Argument: Reply to Weatherson Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophical Quarterly, 2005, Vol. 55, No. 218, pp. 90-97 No
Braude (Stephen) First Person Plural: Multiple Personality and the Philosophy of Mind Book - Cited Low Quality Abstract Braude (Stephen) - First Person Plural: Multiple Personality and the Philosophy of Mind 2%
Braude (Stephen) Multiple Personality and the Structure of the Self Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Kolak & Martin - Self and Identity: Contemporary Philosophical Issues No
Brennan (Andrew) Personal Identity and Personal Survival Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Analysis, vol. 42, 1982, pp. 44-50 No
Brennan (Andrew) Survival Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Synthese June 1984; 59: 339-362 7%
Brook (J.A.) Imagination, Possibility, and Personal Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract American Philosophical Quarterly, 12.3, July 1975, pp. 185-198 No
Brown (James Robert) & Fehige (Yiftach) Thought Experiments Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, 1996-2014 6%
Campbell (Scott) Can You Survive a Brain-Zap Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Theoria, 2004; 70(1): 22-27 Yes
Carter (William) Artifacts of Theseus: Fact and Fission Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 61.3 (September 1983) Yes
Cerullo (Michael A.) Uploading and Branching Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Minds & Machines (2015) 25:17–36 78%
Chalmers (David) The Matrix as Metaphysics Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Grau - Philosophers Explore "The Matrix", 2005 Yes
Cockburn (David), Ed. Human Beings Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 11%
Cohnitz (Daniel) Personal Identity and the Methodology of Imaginary Cases Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Petrus - On Human Persons, 2003 Yes
Dennett (Daniel) Brainchildren - Essays on Designing Minds Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 1%
Dennett (Daniel) Brainstorms - Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 43%
Dennett (Daniel) Where Am I? Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Dennett - Brainstorms - Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology, Chapter 17 Yes
Elliot (Robert) How to Travel Faster than Light Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Analysis 41.1,January 1981, pp. 4-6 No
Ellis (Brian) Australasian Journal of Philosophy - 61.3 (September 1983) Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Bibliographical details to be supplied 83%
Fricker (Miranda) & Hornsby (Jennifer), Eds. The Cambridge Companion to Feminism in Philosophy Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Bibliographical details to be supplied 2%
Gale (Richard) On Some Pernicious Thought-Experiments Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Thought Experiments in Science and Philosophy, Ed. Tamara Horowitz & Gerald J. Massey, 1991 Yes
Garrett (Brian) Fission Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Garrett - Personal Identity and Self-consciousness, 1998, Chapter 4 Yes
Garrett (Brian) Personal Identity and Self-consciousness Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Grau (Christopher) Philosophers Explore 'The Matrix' Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Bibliographical details to be supplied 12%
Harris (Henry) An Experimentalist Looks at Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Harris - Identity - Essays Based on Herbert Spencer Lectures Given in the University of Oxford 5%
Harris (Henry) Identity - Essays Based on Herbert Spencer Lectures Given in the University of Oxford Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 6%
Hawley (Katherine) Fission, Fusion and Intrinsic Facts Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophy and Phenomenological Research (forthcoming, issue dated November 2005) Yes
Hilgard (Ernest R.) Dissociative Phenomena and the Hidden Observer Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Kolak & Martin - Self and Identity: Contemporary Philosophical Issues No
Hirsch (Eli) Divided Minds Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Philosophical Review 100, 1991 No
Horowitz (Tamara) & Massey (Gerald J.) Thought Experiments in Science and Philosophy Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 4%
Humphrey (Nicholas) & Dennett (Daniel) Speaking for Our Selves: An Assessment of Multiple Personality Paper - Cited Dennett - Brainchildren - Essays on Designing Minds No
James (Susan) Feminism in Philosophy of Mind: The Question of Personal Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Fricker & Hornsby - The Cambridge Companion to Feminism in Philosophy Yes
Kaku (Michio) The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest To Understand, Enhance and Empower the Mind Book - Cited High Quality Abstract Kaku (Michio) - The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest To Understand, Enhance and Empower the Mind Yes
Kolak (Daniel) & Martin (Raymond), Eds. Self and Identity: Contemporary Philosophical Issues Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied No
Lizza (John) Multiple Personality and Personal Identity Revisited Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 44, No. 2, Jun., 1993, pp. 263-274 No
Long (Douglas) The Bodies of Persons Paper - Cited Journal of Philosophy 71, No. 10 (May 30, 1974), 291-301 Yes
Marks (Charles) Commissurotomy, Consciousness and Unity of Mind Book - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Marks (Charles) - Commissurotomy, Consciousness and Unity of Mind Yes
Marshall (Richard) Philosophy at 3:AM: Questions and Answers with 25 Top Philosophers Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 97%
Marshall (Richard) & Olson (Eric) Eric T. Olson: The Philosopher with No Hands Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Marshall (Richard) - Philosophy at 3:AM: Questions and Answers with 25 Top Philosophers Yes
Martin (Raymond) Fission Rejuvenated Paper - Cited Martin & Barresi - Personal Identity, Chapter 8 No
Martin (Raymond) & Barresi (John), Eds. Personal Identity Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 20%
Merricks (Trenton) Fission and Personal Identity Over Time Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Philosophical Studies 88, Number 2, November 1997, pp. 163-186(24). No
Nagel (Thomas) Brain Bisection and the Unity of Consciousness Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Nagel (Thomas) - Mortal Questions Yes
Nagel (Thomas) Mortal Questions Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Noonan (Harold) Personal Identity Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Noonan (Harold) The Reduplication Problem Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Noonan - Personal Identity, 2003, Chapter 7 Yes
Noonan (Harold) The Self and the Future Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Noonan - Personal Identity, 2003, Chapter 10 Yes
Northoff (G.) Do Brain Tissue Transplants Alter Personal Identity? Inadequacies of Some 'Standard' Arguments Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Journal of Medical Ethics, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jun., 1996) (pp. 174-180) No
Nussbaum (Martha) & Sunstein (Cass), Eds. Clones and Clones: Facts and Fantasies About Human Cloning Book - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Nussbaum (Martha) & Sunstein (Cass), Eds. - Clones and Clones: Facts and Fantasies About Human Cloning 4%
Odegard (Douglas) Personal and Bodily Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophical Quarterly, 1969, 69-71 Yes
O'Hear (Anthony), Ed. Philosophy - 81/316 (April 2006) Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Bibliographical details to be supplied 18%
Papineau (David) The Importance of Philosophical Intuition Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Backdoor Broadcasting Company; Metaphilosophical Directions for the 21st Century - 11 December 2009 Yes
Parkin (Alan) Explorations in Cognitive Neuropsychology Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Parkin (Alan) The Split Brain Paper - Cited Parkin - Explorations in Cognitive Neuropsychology, 1996, Chapter 6 Yes
Perry (John) Can the Self Divide? Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Perry - Identity, Personal Identity and the Self, 2002, Chapter 3 No
Perry (John) Identity, Personal Identity and the Self Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 4%
Perry (John) Williams on The Self and the Future Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Perry - Identity, Personal Identity and the Self, 2002, Chapter 6 No
Petrus (Klaus), Ed. On Human Persons Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) High Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 98%
Puccetti (Roland) Brain Bisection and Personal Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 24:339-355 (1973) No
Puccetti (Roland) Brain Transplants and Personal Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Analysis 29.3, 1969, pp. 65-77 No
Puccetti (Roland) Mr. Brennan on Person's Brains Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Analysis 31.1, 1970, pp. 30-32 No
Puccetti (Roland) Multiple Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 54.3, 1973, 203-215 No
Puccetti (Roland) Remembering the Past of Another Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 2 (4), June 1973: 523-532. No
Radden (Jennifer) Divided Minds and Successive Selves: Ethical Issues in Disorders of Identity and Personality Book - Cited Low Quality Abstract Radden (Jennifer) - Divided Minds and Successive Selves: Ethical Issues in Disorders of Identity and Personality 2%
Roache (Rebecca) A Defence of Quasi-Memory Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Philosophy - 81/316 (April 2006), pp. 323-356 Yes
Robinson (Denis) Can Amoebae Divide Without Multiplying? Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 63.3, Sept. 1985, 299-319 Yes
Rorty (Amélie Oksenberg), Ed. The Identities of Persons Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 33%
Rovane (Carol) Branching Self-Consciousness Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophical Review 99.3, July 1990, pp. 355-395 No
Seibt (Johanna) Fission, Sameness, and Survival: Parfit’s Branch Line Argument Revisited Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Metaphysica 1.2 (2000), pp. 95-134 No
Shoemaker (David) Personal Identity and Ethics: A Brief Introduction Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Shoemaker (David) Personal Identity and Immortality Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Shoemaker (David) - Personal Identity and Ethics: A Brief Introduction, 2009, Chapter 1 Yes
Snowdon (Paul) Personal Identity and Brain Transplants Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Cockburn - Human Beings, 1991 Yes
Sorensen (Roy) Thought Experiments Book - Cited Low Quality Abstract Sorensen (Roy) - Thought Experiments 6%
Sperry (Roger W.) Hemisphere Deconnection and the Unity in Conscious Awareness Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Baars, Banks & Newman - Essential Sources in the Scientific Study of Consciousness 11%
Todman (Theo) Thesis - Chapter 02 (What Are We?) Paper - Referencing   Yes
Tye (Michael) Can Anyone Else Feel My Pains? Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Tye - Ten Problems of Consciousness, 1995, Chapter 3 Yes
Tye (Michael) Consciousness and Persons: Unity and Identity Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 7%
Tye (Michael) Split Brains Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Tye - Consciousness and Persons, 2003, Chapter 5 No
Tye (Michael) Ten Problems of Consciousness Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes
Unger (Peter) A Physically Based Approach To Our Survival Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Unger - Identity, Consciousness and Value, Chapter 5 Yes
Unger (Peter) Fission and the Focus of One's Life Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Unger - Identity, Consciousness and Value, Chapter 8 Yes
Unger (Peter) Identity, Consciousness and Value Book - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Unger (Peter) - Identity, Consciousness and Value Yes
Van Inwagen (Peter) Brain Transplants Paper - Cited Van Inwagen - Material Beings; 1990; Ch. 15 Yes
Van Inwagen (Peter) Material Beings Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Medium Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 40%
Van Inwagen (Peter) Two Problems About Personal Identity: Memory and Commissurotomy Paper - Cited Van Inwagen - Material Beings; 1990; Ch. 16 Yes
Weatherson (Brian) Are You a Sim? Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophical Quarterly, 2003, Vol. 53: 425-31 No
Wiggins (David) Locke, Butler and the Stream of Consciousness: And Men as Natural Kind Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Philosophy, Vol. 51, No. 196 (Apr., 1976), pp. 131-158 Yes
Wilkes (Kathleen) Fugues, Hypnosis, and Multiple Personality Paper - Cited Low Quality Abstract Wilkes - Real People: Personal Identity Without Thought Experiments, Chapter 4 Yes
Wilkes (Kathleen) Multiple Personality and Personal Identity Paper - Cited Medium Quality Abstract The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Dec., 1981), pp. 331-348 20%
Wilkes (Kathleen) Real People: Personal Identity Without Thought Experiments Book - Cited Medium Quality Abstract Wilkes (Kathleen) - Real People: Personal Identity Without Thought Experiments Yes
Williams (Bernard) Problems of the Self Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied 55%
Williams (Bernard) The Self and the Future Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Williams - Problems of the Self Yes
Wilson (Jack) Beyond Horses and Oak Trees: A New Theory of Individuation for Living Entities Paper - Cited High Quality Abstract Wilson, Jack - Biological Individuality: The identity and Persistence of Living Entities; 1999, Chap. 1, pp. 1-21 Yes
Wilson (Jack) Biological Individuality - The identity and Persistence of Living Entities Book - Cited (via Paper Cited) Low Quality Abstract Bibliographical details to be supplied Yes


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