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Personal Identity

  1. If two persons could inhabit the same body, would this show that animalism is false? Why or why
    not?
  2. A Different Person Thought Probe (pg 247 in 5th edition) from the intro to chapter 4. Read the story
    (and thought probe) and answer these questions: Is she a numerically different person? Why or why
    not? How about quantitatively? Why or why not? Is she different enough to get a reduced sentence?
    Why or why not?
  3. If your DNA were fused with that of a cat so that eventually you had the body of a cat (and your mind
    was left intact), would this show that animalism is true? Why or why not?
  4. Explain why the possibility of a soul switch suggests that the soul theory is false.
  5. Explain John Hick's point about souls and how heredity and environment seem to account for all of an
    individual's character traits.
  6. Are souls needed to explain anything (about ourselves or our identities)? If so, what?
  7. If your memories were erased but your soul remained intact, would you still be the same person?
    Why or why not?
  8. Were You Ever a Fetus Thought Probe. Read and answer these questions: Is this consequence of
    Locke's theory plausible? Why or why not?
  9. What is the inconsistency objection? (what is it an objection against?) What is a response to it? Do
    you find the response to be adequate? Why or why not?

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