Ideas from 'The Unimportance of Identity' by Derek Parfit [1995], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Personal Identity' (ed/tr Martin,R /Barresi,J) [Blackwells 2003,0-0631-23442-x]].

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2. Reason / E. Argument / 7. Thought Experiments
Imaginary cases are good for revealing our beliefs, rather than the truth
7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 2. Reduction
Reduction can be by identity, or constitution, or elimination [PG]
16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 1. Identity and the Self
Psychologists are interested in identity as a type of person, but philosophers study numerical identity
16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 2. Mental Continuity / b. Self as mental continuity
If my brain-halves are transplanted into two bodies, I have continuity, and don't need identity
Over a period of time what matters is not that 'I' persist, but that I have psychological continuity
16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 4. Split Consciousness
It is fine to save two dying twins by merging parts of their bodies into one, and identity is irrelevant
If two humans are merged surgically, the new identity is a purely verbal problem
16. Persons / E. Rejecting the Self / 4. Denial of the Self
It doesn't matter whether I exist with half my components replaced (any more than an audio system)