PSY 0816 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7-8: Derek Parfit, Thought Experiment
7 May 2016
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Consider whether or not the self is a continuous, unified entity. Our experiencing self seems to be at the centre of everything we are aware of at a given time, and to be continuous from one moment to the next. Self seems to have both unity and continuity. There is really some kind of continuous self that is the subject of my experiences, that makes my decisions, and so on. Secondly, accepts that it seems this way but claims that really there is not underlying continuous and unitary self. Compare and contrast ego theorist and bundle theorist perspectives of the self. Ego theorist believe in continuously existing selves who are subjects of experience and who think, act and feel. Bundle theorist deny there is any such thing. Examine the teletransporter thought experiment and recognize what it tells us about our views of the self. Starts from how it feels, and builds his entire theory around that.
