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OMniversal
A Blaze in the Northern Sky


Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 218
Loc: The Synaptic Cleft
Last seen: 8 years, 28 days
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A thought experiment in personal identity/the self
#7597419 - 11/05/07 05:29 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Just wanted to share and get some views on a thought experiment asked by a prof of mine in philosophy of mind, regarding identity.
Say you and another person..we`ll call him 'Bob'.. are in a certain predicament where you are being told that you and Bob are going to be switching brains to eachothers bodies. However, after the switch is complete, one person will be shot and killed.
Who would you rather have spared? Your brain in Bob's body? or Bob's brain in your body? Although most people would probably choose Bobs body with your brain, the experiment is meant to show the different ways in which we identify as our 'selves', in this case our bodies. With a completely new body, it would be quite difficult to reintegrate your old notion of who you were, as even people who have received major burns or damage to their face alone have also displayed.
What do you guys think? Would anyone choose the other option? What do you think are the different or biggest things that one uses to create their idea of self?
Ah, just a late codeine inspired philosophical thought hehe.
-------------------- "We contemplate the same stars, the Heavens are common to us all, and the same world surrounds us. What matters the path of wisdom by which each person seeks the truth? One cannot reach such a great mystery by a single path." - Symmachus, challenging the violent persecution of pagans by Catholic Roman emperor Theodosius I "When you look at yourself from a universal standpoint, something inside always reminds or informs you that there are bigger and better things to worry about." -Einstein
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Booby
Agent Mulder

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 3,781
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: A thought experiment in personal identity/the self [Re: OMniversal]
#7597465 - 11/05/07 06:17 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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As you get older you start to disassociate your reflection in the mirror with your identity, so I'd say that a youngster would rather be shot than be in another body (especially an older one) whereas an older person wouldn't have so many qualms.
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Boots
Disenchanted


Registered: 07/25/07
Posts: 1,137
Loc: Northwood, Ohio, U.S.A.
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: A thought experiment in personal identity/the self [Re: Booby]
#7597493 - 11/05/07 06:40 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'd rather have Bob's body (with my brain). Although, if Bob was an unsightly mess, I wouldn't be too happy.
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger



Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
Loc: Pandurn
Last seen: 1 year, 12 days
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Re: A thought experiment in personal identity/the self [Re: Boots]
#7597510 - 11/05/07 06:52 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Difficulty reintegrating, or loss of identity altogether?
I'd rephrase it as opportunity in reintegration, or loss of identity altogether, myself.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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