Analyze Derek Parfits Personal Identity Essay Example

Analyze Derek Parfits Personal Identity Essay Example Analyze Derek Parfits Personal Identity Essay Analyze Derek Parfits Personal Identity Essay This essay will analyze Derek Parfits Personal Identity. In his essay, Derek Parfit explains a scenario where a brain is divided into two pieces. The two pieces of brain are then housed in two different bodies. 1 To Parfit, there are three possibilities for the survival of the identity to which the brain in question originally had. 1. The persons identity does not survive. 2. The persons identity survives as one of the two new people. 3. The persons identity survives through both new persons. Parfit rejects all three of these possibilities for various reasons. I will attempt to explain how Parfit goes about rejecting these three possibilities, and explicate what I believe Parfit overlooked. In his essay Parfit rejects the first possibility by bringing up a person who has lost half his brain. He says that it is possible for people to have half of their brain destroyed and still survive. 2 This being the case there is little difference between having half a brain transplanted and having half a brain destroyed. Either way the person still only has half a brain. Parfit also rejects the second possibility. In the second possibility the person survives as one of the two new people. Parfits rejection is based on both halves of the brain being identical. If both halves of the brain are identical, and both are transplanted successfully, then there is no reason for one to survive and the other not too. The third possibility is more difficult to resolve. Parfit rejects the notion of the survival as two people. If survival consists in the sameness of identity, then it doesnt follow that a person can survive in two people and have the same identity. On the other hand it may be possible for one person to have two bodies with a divided mind. 3 Supposing that the two people were separated for a long enough time, it stands to reason that they may end up different people. 4 This is where a major problem occurs. If possibility three is possible, it is only possible if a person survives as both new people. Parfit has rejected this claim. But he also says that two people could survive and be different. Parfit then tries to resolve this discrepancy. He brings to example two people who make up a third person. The two people can be themselves, but also comprise another person. 5 Even this doesnt seem to resolve the issue. Parfit then raises another possibility; he attempts to separate survival and identity. In other words one could survive as the two different people without being those people. This concept he calls the descendant self6, whereby a person doesnt necessarily have the same identity as either of the resulting persons. Rather, the two resulting people together make up the person. So it seems that Parfit is skirting the original question of identity. His theory of the descendant selves attempts to remove identity out of the problem and replace it with survival. I dont believe that Parfit feels identity is a necessary component in survival. Furthermore, by taking this stance, I dont think that he answers the question of personal identity. Clearly though only parts of ones body needs to survive, and I think that Parfit would agree that that is the brain. This being the case Parfit brings to example a person with epilepsy. Doctors can split the brain and create two separate spheres of consciousness. The separation of the two halves of the brain doesnt seem to matter, as long as they are in the same body. If the two brain halves are in the same body then that constitutes the same person. But what is the difference between being in the same body and not being in the same body? The only difference is that the separated halves are in different bodies. Parfit objection would be that the two people could be separated for a long period of time they would end up being different people. They may not even recognize each other if they met. Still, it doesnt mean that they are not the same person. If me right now and me sixty years from now met, we may not know or recognize one another. Is that to say that we arent the same person? I dont think that Parfit is truly interested in the problem of personal identity per se. Rather, I think that he is more interested in explaining survivability. In that it doesnt matter to Parfit that the original person survives, instead, what is important is that someone survives. Furthermore, that that someone has some relation to the original persons psychology. Moreover, that the psychological relationships are continually overlapping. 7 These overlapping relationships Parfit calls psychological continuity. I dont think that this idea of psychological continuity solves the problem of personal identity though. If we look at Parfits diagram, we would see the original person A8, and several descendant selves. 9 These descendant selves are connected to person A through psychological continuity. In this way, any person on the tree is a descendant self of A. Moreover, though these people may not be person A, and in fact are not person A, still they survive at best as part of person A. This is somewhat difficult to understand. The descendant selves are not the original person. If this is the case, how does Parfit answer the question of personal identity? The answer is that he doesnt. Or rather, that he skirts the issue. Parfit makes survivability the important issue. How is it that someone can survive into the future? Even though there is no one identical to you in the future there is psychological continuity between you and a future self. This being the case, survivability is a function of psychological continuity. This is where I think Parfits mistake is. Continuity, to me, implies an uninterrupted succession or flow. I believe the key word here is uninterrupted. Yet, in Parfits example there is an interruption. Between each of the descending selves exist differences, which create a separation. Another way to think of this is to use Parfits original example of the brain surgery. Suppose we had three people, and two of those people had their brains removed. Further suppose that we took the brain of the third person, split it half, and transplanted the halves into the two people without brains. The third possibility (which Parfit rejects) would say that the original persons identity survives through the two new people. What Parfit wants to say is that the two new people are descendant selves of the original person. Furthermore, that the two new people share psychological continuity with the original person. Though they are not the same people as the original person, the original person survives through them. Herein lies what I believe to be Parfits mistake. The two new people do not share psychological continuity with the original person. Continuity, as stated above, implies an uninterrupted succession or flow. To say that a persons psychology is continuous through the type of operation stated before isnt true. Having ones brain cut in half already implies that one wouldnt be the same person. If this were the case then personal identity wouldnt be the same either. Though some of the original persons memories and traits may survive, the original persons identity wouldnt. Ultimately, if the two new people created only share some memories and some traits of the original person, I dont think that it is enough to say that they share psychological continuity with the original person. This being the case, it also wouldnt follow that the original person survives through the two new people. A few memories and traits dont constitute survivability.

Ford essays

Ford essays They can start out as simple as a dream, or a sketch on a napkin during lunch. But by the time you see them, vehicles from Ford Motor Company have been designed and tested to look and perform their best. Here are some stories that chronicle that process. From the Model T to the latest futuristic designs, the engineers at Ford have a long history of design innovation. Here you can get a glimpse of some of the latest visions of the cars of the future. Keeping up to date with current technology is essential to ensuring reliability and safety. See how Ford puts cutting edge developments to work on important issues like Y2K compliance. All great innovations begin with a strong commitment to research. Meet the people behind some of our better ideas and visit places like the Ford Research Laboratory, where exciting new strides are being made in the technology that drives your car. Ford's commitment to the latest research and technology is evident in the cars you see on the road today. Find out more about the cars you want to drive. Innovative solutions to keep you safe and secure. Of all the things we transport in our vehicles, the most important are our children. See what Ford is doing to help keep them safe. Learning to drive remains one of the biggest rites-of-passage for our youth. Read about some of the ways Ford is helping to train the next generation of drivers. When used correctly, they're one of the best safety devices on your vehicle. This section will answer a lot of your questions and explain how air bags work. Buckling up and making sure kids are properly restrained in the rear seat are two important ways you can help keep everyone safe. Here are some other ways Ford is helping to do the same. Dedicated to providing ingenious environmental solutions ...

Geosynchronous Satellite Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Geosynchronous Satellite - Assignment Example Through this, the country can intensify the defense itself against terrorism and other attacks. Meteorologists can also monitor the weather conditions by using these GEO satellites, and this information can help pilots to plan their travel plans in a way that the weather will not affect their journeys. Also, its helps businesspersons to communicate effectively hence making them aware of the market for their products. Additionally, the effects of the ozone layer can be monitored through the GEO satellites and adequate measures taken to curb the health effects related to the destruction of the ozone layer. In GEO satellites, they are meant to stay there for life, and this will help future generations with artistic history from ancient times, that will live longer than humans will. This can be retrieved from the storage units of these satellites. Spiritually, the GEO satellites help religions to communicate with fellow worshipers all over the world and plan spiritual meetings. Thus, this assists the world to be united spiritually hence bringing about peace to its inhabitants (Breunig & Zlatanova, 2011). The need to respond to these natural human factors in a comprehensive manner affected the developed of a GEO satellite that could serve numerous purposes ranging from monitoring the weather to ensuring the security of a nation. GEO satellites were formed to stay far above the ground so that they cannot be tampered with and will a good view of the globe from all corners of the world. They contain rechargeable batteries that are charged by the sun hence they will always be working all day and night. This will ensure all this human factors are monitored all day and even at night when no one is watching, these satellites will capture all happenings and the responsive action taken whenever an issue arises. a) The Geosynchronous satellite has greatly influenced the population growth, lifespan/mortality and health in a great way. This has been achieved by the

How has the debt problem in Europe evolved Using appropriate theories, Coursework

How has the debt problem in Europe evolved Using appropriate theories, assess how governments and institutions have responded t - Coursework Example He stated that â€Å"Europe faced a â€Å"moral crisis† as much as an economic crisis and hence â€Å"European leaders needed to make up their minds on the type of union they really wanted† (Beesley 2013). According to him, there was a need for â€Å"radical economics† and a â€Å"radical rethink† of how Eu leaders were handling the economic crisis† (Ibid). The debt problem was generated as a result of so many complicated factors from different sectors of Eurozone. The introduction of Euro or the formation of monetary union, without uniting the fiscal policies of the countries was one among them. European Union did not give proper attention to confirm whether the member states were obeying EU’s rules and regulations and during the crisis they also accepted the high budget deficits by many countries. The global recession of course has a role in the problem from the year 2008 to 2012. The debt crisis faltered the lending and economic growth bec ause of the bank’s liquidity problems (ACCA 2012). The loans made to both governments and private organizations had assumed certain levels of growth when these expectations failed problems arose regarding the repayment and servicing debts (Ibid). In general, problems from the banking sectors had caused remarkable effects on the whole European economy. The rating agencies utilized the crisis occasion in a way that led rise in bond yields and tensions in the bond market and also made the government to hesitate in raising money because of the distrust on creditors about the payment. European Politics had a sound influence on worsening the dept dilemma. Different political parties with different ideas and suggestions always created conflicts between the decision makers. Germany went ahead with their austerity-led strategy to deal with the crisis and also protected against the anti-austerity parties through their strikes. The responsible authorities or leaders could not take relev ant measures at the right time in order to tackle the problem, and it spread uncontrollably. The decisions made by them seemed to be unsuitable and non-practical. The European Union’s attempts to find proper solutions for the debt crisis resulted in increasing the minimum level of bank capitalization in order to make capable of handling future problems (ACCA 2012). Another step forwarded by the EU was the formation of European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to raise funds needed to provide loans to the European countries and later developed a mechanism in conjunction with both EFSF and Internal Monetary Fund for the same purpose (Ibid). As the banking section founded to be a key solution for debt crisis management, the European Central Bank decided to assure low interest rates to aid and boost economic growth and tried to solve problems regarding liquidity by bringing government and private debt securities to the open market. But ECB lacked other important options like f orming fiscal union or banking union. Internal Monetary Fund is also lending money in appropriate manner joining with EFSF and they are expected to do much more in upcoming years. Morris Goldstein, a former deputy director of research at the IMF said that â€Å"If the IMF wasn’t participating at all, the crisis would have been worse† (Eving 2013). While IMF had insisted that the aid recipients must cut government spending and raise taxes Ms. Lagarde

Things to Know About Volleyball Essay Example for Free

Things to Know About Volleyball Essay One thing that I didn’t know about volleyball was that in 1895 William G. Morgan invented it. I also didn’t know that Volleyball has the skills of Baseball, Handball, and Tennis. Two things I already knew were how to spike and serve. Two things I already knew how to do were how to spike and serve. One more thing I didn’t know was how to jump serve. hits then without exercising. This book is based on both facts and how you would play the game. The way the author uses facts is by on page 54 it tells you step by step how to do a back set. The way I can tell the difference between the author’s presentation or fact and inference is by in all of chapter one it gives you some facts on how the game first started. One of the facts is that in 1895 William G. Morgan wanted to invent a game that had the skills of baseball, handball, and tennis. Thus inventing Volleyball. Five items you would put in a timecapsul would be: 1. A volleyball because that’s what the book is all about. 2. Tips on How to Play the game so that if someone in the future knew how to play already they could have tips to become better player’s. 3. A list of warm-ups and exercises to do to play the game better cause your have better 4.I would also put in a list of steps that you should do to know how to spike because bumping, setting, and spiking are the three main ways to get the ball over the net. 5.I would also put in a list of Volleyball Talk words because they would be good to have so when you play the game and use the words you will know what they mean and how to use them.

Machiavellian Advice from The Prince Essay -- Political Science

Niccolo Machiavelli was a middle-class and humanist-educated Florentine diplomat, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Renaissance in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Although bestowed with the title of the father of modern political theory, Machiavelli has been, and continues to be widely misunderstood and misinterpreted (Kreis). The term â€Å"Machiavellian,† and it is in the dictionary, is defined as subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty (Dictionary). In acknowledgment of the enduring impact of Machiavelli on society, psychologists have identified a distinct personality style that is characterized by manipulativeness, cynicism about human nature, and shrewdness in interpersonal behavior, and named this syndrome after Machiavelli (â€Å"48†). Machiavellianism is described as a manipulative strategy of social interaction and personality style that uses other people as tools of personal gain (â€Å"48†). In this excerpt from The Prince, Machiavelli’s most recognized and popular discourse on morality and power, the author discusses and compares numerous aspects of the necessary attributes of a successful ruler. While he debates the pros and cons of vice and virtue, Machiavelli presents a compelling case for the adroit application of vice, in the event that princely virtues will threaten the sovereignty of authority. Most of Machiavelli’s work, including the The Prince, was only formally published posthumously, and the assumption would be that his intention in writing The Prince was not to inform the general public, most of who had neither reading skills, the access to books, or held positions of leadership and government. Machiavelli’s true intention in writing The Prince was to gain the att... ...itics. That Machiavelli has become synonymous with treachery is ironic, for this essay unmistakably and definitely confirms that throughout the history of civilization, those leaders who persevered and gained recognition as icons of power, character, and intellect were those who understood the balance of virtue and vice. Works Cited Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 12 March 2012. Kirszner, Laurie G., and Mandell, Stephen R. Practical Argument. â€Å"From The Prince.† New York: Bedford-St. Martin’s. 2011. Print Kreis, Steven. â€Å"Niccolo Machiavelli.† The History Guide. The History Guide. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. SparkNotes Editors. â€Å"SparkNote on The Prince.† SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 6 Mar. 2012. â€Å"48 Laws of Power and the Machiavellian Personality.† Psychology and Mental Health Forum. Psychology and Mental Health Forum. Web. Mar. 12 2012.

Beauty by Susan Sontag

â€Å"The privileges of beauty are immense† said Cocteau. To be sure, beauty is a form of power. And deservedly so. What is Lamentable is that it is the only form of power that most women are encouraged to seek. This power is always conceived in relation to men; is not the power to do but the power to attract. †¦. or renounced with out social censure. † – here she states that beauty is a power that us women or men have naturally, we have the power to attract what we want and don’t want. For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. Person then were assumed to be what we now have to call–lamely, enviously–whole person†¦.. beauty would be matched by beauty of the other kind† -here she explains how theirs two types of beauty the â€Å"inside† beauty and the â€Å"outside† beauty. In Susan Sontag informative piece entitled â€Å"Beauty† she discusses her logical thoughts of the beauty of a women an d a men, and of how beauty has changed over the centuries. Susan uses Logical appeals to evoke her philosophy of beauty.She says â€Å"The privileges of beauty are immense† said Cocteau. To be sure, beauty is a form of power. And deservedly so. What is Lamentable is that it is the only form of power that most women are encouraged to seek. This power is always conceived in relation to men; is not the power to do but the power to attract. †¦. or renounced with out social censure. † Here Susan states that beauty is a power that us women or men have naturally, we have the power to attract what we want and don’t want.She as well mentions, â€Å"For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. Person then were assumed to be what we now have to call–lamely, enviously–whole person†¦.. beauty would be matched by beauty of the other kind† Which here she explains how theirs two types of beauty the â€Å"inside† beauty and the â€Å"outside† beauty. Susan is very informative with her logical examples that she makes a clear point in the passage, about beauty has changing through out the centuries but â€Å"inside† beauty and â€Å"outside† beauty remains the same. Beauty by Susan Sontag â€Å"The privileges of beauty are immense† said Cocteau. To be sure, beauty is a form of power. And deservedly so. What is Lamentable is that it is the only form of power that most women are encouraged to seek. This power is always conceived in relation to men; is not the power to do but the power to attract. †¦. or renounced with out social censure. † – here she states that beauty is a power that us women or men have naturally, we have the power to attract what we want and don’t want. For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. Person then were assumed to be what we now have to call–lamely, enviously–whole person†¦.. beauty would be matched by beauty of the other kind† -here she explains how theirs two types of beauty the â€Å"inside† beauty and the â€Å"outside† beauty. In Susan Sontag informative piece entitled â€Å"Beauty† she discusses her logical thoughts of the beauty of a women an d a men, and of how beauty has changed over the centuries. Susan uses Logical appeals to evoke her philosophy of beauty.She says â€Å"The privileges of beauty are immense† said Cocteau. To be sure, beauty is a form of power. And deservedly so. What is Lamentable is that it is the only form of power that most women are encouraged to seek. This power is always conceived in relation to men; is not the power to do but the power to attract. †¦. or renounced with out social censure. † Here Susan states that beauty is a power that us women or men have naturally, we have the power to attract what we want and don’t want.She as well mentions, â€Å"For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. Person then were assumed to be what we now have to call–lamely, enviously–whole person†¦.. beauty would be matched by beauty of the other kind† Which here she explains how theirs two types of beauty the â€Å"inside† beauty and the â€Å"outside† beauty. Susan is very informative with her logical examples that she makes a clear point in the passage, about beauty has changing through out the centuries but â€Å"inside† beauty and â€Å"outside† beauty remains the same.