Occasions of Identity

Overview

• Title: Occasions of Identity: A Study in the Metaphysics of Persistence, Change, and Sameness

• Author: André Gallois

• Edition: Clarendon Press, Oxford 1998

Copyright Information

• Published by Oxford University Press

• Copyright © André Gallois 1998 All rights reserved.

• ISBN: 0-19-823744-8

Preface

• Timeline: Work on the book began in 1983.

• Challenges: Issues encountered include:

  • Complexity of problems related to identity.

  • Dissatisfaction with existing solutions.

• Acknowledgements: Influences acknowledged from various philosophers and assistance in editing and indexing from Madeline Buddell and Geraldine Suter.

Contents Overview

Introduction

• Main Topic: Exploration of identity, focusing on persistence and change.

• Reference to Bertrand Russell’s remarks on identity being perplexing despite its simplicity.

Part I: The Problem and Some Solutions

1. Puzzle Cases: Discussion of famous examples including the Clay Statue, Truncated Car, Ship of Theseus, and others as frameworks for understanding identity.

2. Solutions to the Puzzle Cases: Evaluation of different philosophical frameworks and their responses to identity issues.

Specific Puzzle Cases

1. The Clay Statue

• Scenario: A lump of clay molded into a statue and then remolded into a pot raises questions about the persistence of identity.

• Assumptions:

  • The clay is identical to the statue at first.

  • A statue must always be statue-shaped, leading to contradictions when the statue is remolded.

2. The Truncated Car

• Scenario: Identity issues arise when a car loses a wheel. At T2, the car and the remaining parts share characteristics, yet The Truncated Car lacks the complete features that defined CAR at T1.

3. The Ship of Theseus

• Scenario: A ship constructed of planks where each plank is gradually replaced. This leads to debates on whether the original ship retains its identity through such changes.

Philosophical Themes

• Key Concepts: The text discusses significant philosophical themes such as:

  • Leibniz's Law: A principle governing identity stating that if two things are identical, they share all properties.

  • Contingency of Identity: Challenges the notion that identities cannot change over time.

  • Occasional Identities: Discusses the possibility of identities that hold at one time but not necessarily at another.

Concluding Thoughts

• The examination of these puzzles leads to a better understanding of identity and its implications on metaphysics.

• The occasional identity thesis is proposed as a significant perspective in the ongoing discourse regarding identity and change.

Chapter Highlights

• Introduction: Set the stage for the philosophical inquiry regarding identity, persistence, and change.

• Puzzle Cases: Analyzes each case, illustrating the complexities and contradictions that arise.

• Solutions and Alternatives: Offers various philosophical perspectives, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Summary

Overall, Occasions of Identity presents a detailed investigation into the metaphysics of identity, using puzzle cases as a crucial framework for understanding the nuances of persistence, change, and the concept of sameness.