Single Idea 5351

[catalogued under 16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 2. Mental Continuity / b. Self as mental continuity]

Full Idea

We only have a sense of our self as continuous, but not as exactly the same.

Gist of Idea

We only have a sense of our self as continuous, not as exactly the same

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p.178)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.178


A Reaction

Russell said this too, and it seems to me to be right. Personal identity is far too imprecise for me to assert that I remember my ten-year-old self as being identical to me now. Only physical objects like teddy bears can pass that test.