In this paper I will argue that the thought experiment that Bernard Williams presents us is actually meant to show us that the psychological continuity criterion is flawed. The flaw presented is shown through the reaction of fear when someone is told they will be tortured and even if you break the psychological continuity of a person through the examples shown of memory loss, the gain of new memories, and body swap. The experiments show that the person will continue to see him/herself as the same person, although they are told they will lose all traits and memories that they now know and get new ones. I will go through the scenario pointed out in the thought experiment and how it begins to prove that psychological continuity is shown
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I would argue he believes it is not fully developed and not wrong because I do not know what he is arguing. Williams simply points out that there is a flaw in that view not whether he wants to try to discredit the theory or simply modify it. Within those confines I believe he is correct in pointing out flaw and I agree with him. In my opinion, however, there should simply be a modification made to the psychological continuity theory by taking properties from the physical continuity theory and making a complete theory that allows both aspects of a person to serve as indicators to their identity. If Williams added more in his example, I could have reached a further conclusion on what he wanted to show in the thought experiment beyond what is obvious. He said himself that “[he did] not think this would cheer [him] up, either” meaning he is in complete agreement with person A’s reaction to being told they will be tortured and lose their memories before that and they will be replaced with person B’s memories. If you go through the experiment yourself you too will find no comfort in being told that you will be tortured but mentally you will lose all memories and gain the memories of another person this is still terrifying because we associate our physical body with our
I would argue he believes it is not fully developed and not wrong because I do not know what he is arguing. Williams simply points out that there is a flaw in that view not whether he wants to try to discredit the theory or simply modify it. Within those confines I believe he is correct in pointing out flaw and I agree with him. In my opinion, however, there should simply be a modification made to the psychological continuity theory by taking properties from the physical continuity theory and making a complete theory that allows both aspects of a person to serve as indicators to their identity. If Williams added more in his example, I could have reached a further conclusion on what he wanted to show in the thought experiment beyond what is obvious. He said himself that “[he did] not think this would cheer [him] up, either” meaning he is in complete agreement with person A’s reaction to being told they will be tortured and lose their memories before that and they will be replaced with person B’s memories. If you go through the experiment yourself you too will find no comfort in being told that you will be tortured but mentally you will lose all memories and gain the memories of another person this is still terrifying because we associate our physical body with our