Personal Identity
What are You?
Level 1: External Identity
- What would you ask to get to know someone new? What would you tell someone to explain who you are?
- How do pets, animals, and children get to know someone new?
- Do you act differently depending on who is around? If so, how?
Level 2: Identity Crisis
- Are there any objects that, if taken away, would affect how you act? Is “affecting how you act” the same thing as “affecting You”?
- Suppose an exact clone of your body is made right now (including memories and mental states!). Is the clone You?
- What happened to You when you were born? What happens to You when you die?
Level 3: Internal Identity
- Where do You begin? Where do You end?
- Have You changed over time?
- Does the language we use affect our sense of self? If so, in what ways?
Bonus: Is there a difference between ‘you’ and ‘You’?