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Single Idea 3239

[from 'Are Persons Bodies?' by Bernard Williams, in 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 1. Existence of Persons ]

Full Idea

If you love a person as a type instead of as a token (i.e. a "person", instead of a physical body) you might prefer a run-down copy of them to no person at all, but at this point our idea of loving a person begins to crack.

Clarification

A token is an item; a type is a set of characteristics

Gist of Idea

You can only really love a person as a token, not as a type

Source

Bernard Williams (Are Persons Bodies? [1970], p.81)

Book Reference

Williams,Bernard: 'Problems of the Self: Papers 1956-1972' [CUP 1979], p.81


A Reaction

Very persuasive. If you love a person you can cope with them getting old. If you own an original watercolour, you can accept that it fades, but you would replace a reproduction of it if that faded. But what, then, is it that you love?