more from Christine M. Korsgaard

Single Idea 9757

[catalogued under 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 4. Persons as Agents]

Full Idea

In forming a particular plan of life, you need to identify with your future in order to be what you are even now. When the person is viewed as an agent, no clear content can be given to the idea of a merely present self.

Gist of Idea

A person viewed as an agent makes no sense without its own future

Source

Christine M. Korsgaard (Intro to 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [1996], §2)

Book Reference

Korsgaard,Christine M.: 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [CUP 1996], p.372


A Reaction

I certainly like the notion that we should treat persons primarily as agents, since I take personhood to be more like a process than an existent entity. If a large brick is about to hit you, you actually have no future, though you think you have.