Single Idea 1393

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

Full Idea

If I say 'It will not be me, but one of my future selves', I do not imply that I will be that future self. He is one of my later selves, and I am one of his earlier selves. There is no underlying person we both are.

Gist of Idea

One of my future selves will not necessarily be me

Source

Derek Parfit (Personal Identity [1971], §5)

Book Reference

'Personal Identity', ed/tr. Perry,John [University of California 1975], p.219


A Reaction

The problem here seems to be explaining why I should care about my later self, if it isn't me. If the answer is only that it will be psychologically very similar to me, then I would care more about my current identical twin than about my future self.