1.
Why is it misleading to describe the ‘beaming’ of people in
Star Trek
as a form
of transportation?
a.
“If you step into a transporter, your brain and body are instantly scanned,
and the resulting information is beamed to your chosen destination, say
Mars” (499).
b.
It is misleading to call beaming transporting because it essentially just
creates a whole new being that’s exactly like you.
2.
What is the difference between similarity and numerical identity?
a.
“…and in the ‘numerical’ (strict) sense of ‘identity,’ two things are never
identical” (501).
b.
Numerical identity is when two things are different, when compared to
similarity identity when two things seemingly are.
3.
What is a criterion of personal identity?
a.
“For example, suppose that Casey looks a lot like Drew: same hair color,
same eyes, and so forth…” (501).
b.
A criterion of personal identity are similarity in terms of looks.
4.
What is the soul criterion?
a.
“A soul criterion highlights something important about a criterion of
personal identity” (503).
b.
Soul criterions highlight personal identity criterions to state “how things
must be” (503).
5.
What is the memory criterion?
a.
“The memory criterion implies that amnesia- perfect and total amnesia-
amounts to death, and this may seem implausible” (504).
b.
Memory criterion relates amnesia to death, but it is something that seems
almost incomprehensible.
6.
Why does the philosophy of personal identity generate so many wild science-
fiction thought experiments?
a.
“We are asked to imagine a bizarre scenario involving brain swapping or
teletransportation and to consult our ‘intuitions’ about survival and
identity” (505).
b.
The philosophy of personal identity generates these experiments because
it relates to both survival and identity. Like transportation, brain
swapping, and numerous other things that one would consider “science
fiction.”
