Philosophical Basics | Oxford, Harvard & Yale Universities' courses - 13. Personal identity, Part IV; What matters?

Death (PHIL 176) The personality theory is revised to state that the key to personal identity is having the same personality provided that there is no branching, that is, provided there is no transfer or duplication of the same personality from one body to another. Similar "no branching" requirements are added to the other theories as well. At the end of class, Professor Kagan suggests a shift from thinking about the survival of the soul in terms of "what does it take to survive?" to "what is it that matters in survival?". 00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction -- The Personality Theory and No Branching 05:29 - Chapter 2. Fission Is Not Allowed -- The Body Theorist's No Branching Rule 19:31 - Chapter 3. The Metaphysics of Soul-Splitting 35:57 - Chapter 4. What Matters in Survival? Refocusing the Question on Personal Identity 47:43 - Chapter 5. Conclusion Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu This course was recorded in Spring 2007.