Quiz 3

Soul Theory (You = Your Soul)

• Says you are the same person because you have the same soul, not necessarily the same body or memories.

• Example: If your soul went into someone else's body, you would still be you.

Readings:

• Gertler (p.113): Probably defends the idea that the mind/soul is separate from the body.

• Hasker & Taliaferro: Argue that your soul could live on after death.

• Clarence Darrow: Might criticize the soul theory (says there’s no proof of the soul).

🧠 Easy Summary:

🧠 2. Body/Brain Theories

💡 Big Question: Are you the same person because of your body or brain?

Body Theory (You = Your Body):

• You’re the same person as long as you have the same body.

• Problem: What if your brain is damaged but your body is alive?

Brain Theory (You = Your Brain):

• You are your brain. If your brain moves to a new body, you go with it.

Readings:

• Eric Olson: Says we are just human animals, and psychology (like memory) doesn’t matter as much.

• Karen Quinlan case: A real woman in a coma. Her body was alive but her mind wasn’t working. Is she still the same person?

• Parfit: Says identity might not matter. What matters is psychological continuity—your thoughts, memories, personality.

🧠 Easy Summary:

🧠 3. Psychological Theories (John Locke)

💡 Big Question: Is your identity based on your memories?

Locke’s Idea (You = Your Memories):

• You are the same person if you remember your past actions.

• If someone has your memories, then they are you—even in a different body.

• If you forget something, you’re not the same person in that way.

Readings:

• Locke (pp.48–50): Explains his memory theory.

• Perry (pp.54–61): Uses fun examples like switching bodies to test Locke’s idea.

🧠 Easy Summary:

⚙ 4. Hard Line Determinism

💡 Big Question: Do we have free will, or is everything already determined?

Hard Determinism (No Free Will):

• Everything you do is caused by something else (your brain, your environment, etc.).

• You think you’re choosing, but you’re not. Everything is determined by natural laws.

Readings:

• D’Holbach: Says free will is just an illusion.

• Vaidman (Many Worlds): In quantum physics, maybe many outcomes happen—but that still might not give us free will.

• McKenna & Coates (Compatibilism): Say we can be free even if the world is determined—as long as we’re acting without being forced.

🧠 Easy Summary:

🎯 Let’s Practice – Quick Questions

1. What’s the soul theory of identity?
   ➤ You’re the same person because you have the same soul.

2. What does Locke say makes you the same person?
   ➤ Your memories—if you remember doing something, it was you.

3. What’s Olson’s “animalism” view?
   ➤ You’re the same person because you’re the same biological human.

4. What does hard determinism say about free will?
   ➤ We don’t have free will; everything we do is caused by something else.

5. How is compatibilism different from hard determinism?
   ➤ Compatibilism says you can still be responsible for your actions even if the world is determined.