Is identity static?

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Is identity static or does it change from moment to moment. What are the philosophical and\or social consequences of the later position?

 

[Hydra009]

Interesting topic. My initial thoughts are that the identity of the individuals as a whole is static, but the thoughts/feelings/beliefs/experiences/physical appearance change all the time.

What makes me me? Or you you?
Very interesting. I don't know.

 

[Murmur]

I'm in the same boat as Hydra009. Good question!

 

[Corran]

Is identity static or does it change from moment to moment. What are the philosophical and\or social consequences of the later position?

Our memories and experiences define who and what we are. A massmurderer that loses his memory would not continue to kill ppl unless circumstances pushed him to it.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Interesting topic. My initial thoughts are that the identity of the individuals as a whole is static, but the thoughts/feelings/beliefs/experiences/physical appearance change all the time.

What makes me me? Or you you?
Very interesting. I don't know.

It brings up a host of philosophical and theological questions too. If identity is not static, then how could we punish criminals, when they are a differnt person from moment to moment? Religously, a group would have to claim that each seperate momentary idenity has a seperate soul, which goes either to heaven or hell-which kind of harkens back to Wesleyan beleifs (Assuming one beleives in hell, which I don't).

I'm not saying I beleive this, but it is a disturbing idea. Personal responsibilty would go out the window if we accepted the concept.

 

[nadroj1985]

Is identity static or does it change from moment to moment.

It changes constantly. The identity of persons is a construct, an illusion. We are not things, but processes. Actually, we're more like manifestations of one process, which we call life.

What are the philosophical and\or social consequences of the later position?

The world must be viewed as essentially one, and any and all separations made within it must be regarded as arbitrary. Also, as you pointed out, personal responsibility as a metaphysical concept has to go out the window.

 

[Donut Hole]

I basically agree with (an updated) David Hume on this question.

For my part, when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception, and never can observe any thing but the perception. When my perceptions are removed for any time, as by sound sleep, so long am I insensible of myself, and may truly be said not to exist. And were all my perceptions removed by death, and could I neither think, nor feel, nor see, nor love, nor hate, after the dissolution of my body, I should be entirely annihilated, nor do I conceive what is further requisite to make me a perfect nonentity. If any one, upon serious and unprejudiced reflection, thinks he has a different notion of himself, I must confess I can reason no longer with him. All I can allow him is, that he may be in the right as well as I, and that we are essentially different in this particular. He may, perhaps, perceive something simple and continued, which he calls himself; though I am certain there is no such principle in me.

Furthermore, in the corse of a person's life, every cell in their body will be replaced multiple times by new ones. The idea of a static personal identity is a tool created by the brain to help the organism in question survive.

In reality though, I am a "different" person than I was when I began typing this message. And will be a "different" person when you read this message than I was when I posted it.