Philosophy Personal Identity Questions Medium
Psychological continuity is a concept in philosophy that relates to personal identity. It suggests that personal identity is not solely determined by physical or bodily characteristics, but rather by the continuity of psychological states and experiences over time.
According to the concept of psychological continuity, an individual's personal identity is maintained through the preservation of their memories, beliefs, desires, and other mental states. It emphasizes the importance of the psychological connections and experiences that shape an individual's sense of self.
Psychological continuity can be understood through the thought experiment of the "teletransporter." Imagine a scenario where a person steps into a teleportation device that scans their entire body, disintegrates it, and recreates an identical copy at a different location. From a physical perspective, the copy is indistinguishable from the original person. However, the question arises: is the copy the same person as the original?
Proponents of psychological continuity argue that personal identity is not solely dependent on physical continuity but rather on the preservation of psychological characteristics. If the copy retains the memories, beliefs, desires, and other mental states of the original person, then it can be considered the same person. However, if the copy lacks these psychological connections, it would be seen as a distinct individual.
Psychological continuity also takes into account the gradual changes and development of an individual's psychological states over time. It recognizes that personal identity is not a fixed entity but rather a dynamic process influenced by the accumulation of experiences and the growth of one's mental states.
In summary, the concept of psychological continuity suggests that personal identity is maintained through the preservation of psychological states and experiences. It emphasizes the importance of the continuity of memories, beliefs, desires, and other mental characteristics in defining an individual's sense of self.