Introduction
Philosophical theories of personal identity consider the extent to which a person is considered the same in mind and body throughout the duration of their life. This is commonly characterised through a “sense of attachment or ownership” to oneself physically or mentally (Olsen, 2015). Bodily continuity is an idea which emerges from this, that one person has the same physical body for their lifespan. Various critiques of bodily continuity have been formed to oppose such abstract ideas, including the replacement of all existing cells in our body in intervals, psychological continuity and multiple personality disorder.
Problem 1
One problem which arises in relation to bodily continuity is the idea that personal identity relies primarily on our body remaining the same. Although the functions of the body remain consistent in the duration of life, our body grows as we age where it is postulated that each cell is …show more content…
It seems illogical to surmise that the body as a defining characteristic of identity, where people can have developed a completely different personality through brain damage and still be considered the same if their body is identical. One instance which contradicts this is the case of Phineas Gage, who had damage to his frontal lobe caused by a metal tamping rod being forced through his skull, resulting in a “profound change in personality” (Damasio, Grabowski, Frank, Galaburda & Damasio, 1994, p.1102). Thus, where he was once conscientious, polite and reliable, he then changed into a person who did not value responsibility and was both unapproachable and pessimistic. According to bodily continuity, Gage was the same person after the accident as he was before, as his body functioned identically. Though this does not seem consistent, as it seems implausible to suggest that someone is the same person if they have a completely different
Philosophical theories of personal identity consider the extent to which a person is considered the same in mind and body throughout the duration of their life. This is commonly characterised through a “sense of attachment or ownership” to oneself physically or mentally (Olsen, 2015). Bodily continuity is an idea which emerges from this, that one person has the same physical body for their lifespan. Various critiques of bodily continuity have been formed to oppose such abstract ideas, including the replacement of all existing cells in our body in intervals, psychological continuity and multiple personality disorder.
Problem 1
One problem which arises in relation to bodily continuity is the idea that personal identity relies primarily on our body remaining the same. Although the functions of the body remain consistent in the duration of life, our body grows as we age where it is postulated that each cell is …show more content…
It seems illogical to surmise that the body as a defining characteristic of identity, where people can have developed a completely different personality through brain damage and still be considered the same if their body is identical. One instance which contradicts this is the case of Phineas Gage, who had damage to his frontal lobe caused by a metal tamping rod being forced through his skull, resulting in a “profound change in personality” (Damasio, Grabowski, Frank, Galaburda & Damasio, 1994, p.1102). Thus, where he was once conscientious, polite and reliable, he then changed into a person who did not value responsibility and was both unapproachable and pessimistic. According to bodily continuity, Gage was the same person after the accident as he was before, as his body functioned identically. Though this does not seem consistent, as it seems implausible to suggest that someone is the same person if they have a completely different