What Are the Key Theories of Personal Identity and the Self?

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The discussion centers on theories of self and personal identity, emphasizing the corporeal aspects of the self. Key points include the role of subjectivity, continuity, and memory in shaping identity. The existence of false memories suggests that personal identity relies on more than just memory, indicating an underlying criterion for identity. Additionally, the discussion highlights the neurological basis of self, proposing that the sense of 'self' arises from specific neuronal connections. Damage to these neural structures can alter or erase the sense of identity, as observed in certain stroke patients. Overall, the conversation explores the complex interplay between physical brain functions and the philosophical understanding of personal identity.
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The existence of false memories proves that there is some other criterion for personal identity besides memories.
 
confinement said:
The existence of false memories proves that there is some other criterion for personal identity besides memories.

Please Explain?
 
The connections of specific neurons create the sense of 'self'. Your 'I' and mine are nothing more than a specific assembly of firing neurons. Without these neurons, there is no 'I'. If this part of the brain becomes damaged or malfunctions, the sense of 'self' could change or disappear. This is likely similar to what happens in people with specific strokes.
 
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