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Yale University

Personal Identity Across Space and Time - The Soul Theory - Lecture 10

Yale University via YouTube

Overview

Explore the philosophical concept of personal identity across space and time in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University's "Death" course. Delve into the metaphysical question of what makes a person the same individual over time. Examine the "soul theory" as a potential explanation for personal identity and discuss its limitations, regardless of whether souls exist. Learn about the train metaphor for survival, the aging of objects, and the concept of space-time worms. Consider the dualist perspective on surviving death through the soul as metaphysical glue. Critically analyze whether the soul is truly the key to personal identity in this thought-provoking exploration of human existence and continuity.

Syllabus

- Chapter 1. Introduction.
- Chapter 2. What Does It Mean to Survive? The Train Metaphor.
- Chapter 3. The Aging of a Car and Space-Time Worms .
- Chapter 4. Will I Survive My Death? The Dualist's Soul as the Metaphysical Glue .
- Chapter 5. Is the Soul Truly the Key to Personal Identity?.

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