Personal Identity and Thought Experments
Author：Yih-Mei Huang
Abstract /
In studying the problems of personal identity, we found there are many imaginary cases. Philosophers used these imaginary thought experiments to decide who we are. They used these thought experiments to find out whether the criterion of personal identity is bodily identity or is constituted by psychological factors. But when they described these thought experiments, they have presupposed some criterion of personal identity. J. Perry`s story is the good example. It can be described as` body change`, it also can be described as` character and personality change`. The way we describe is dependent on what we assume about the criterion of personal identity. It is circular. Therefore, we cannot use these imaginary thought experiments to decide who we are and the criterion of personal identity.