Transcript Concept of Self

Concept of Self
Who am I?
What matters in identity?
Body? Brain?
Is memory a necessary
condition for personal identity?
(Memento)
Imagine that a surgeon is going to
put your brain into my head. Will
the resulting person be you or I?
(Face-off)
Imagine that all parts of your body
except your brain (e.g. limbs, eyes,
heart, lungs, liver, hair, skin etc) are
replaced by artificial parts. Would
this change who you are?
Imagine that the neurons of your
brain are also replaced one by
one with silicon chips with exactly
the same functional properties of
those neurons. Would you still be
you? Is there a moment where
you cease to exist?
I think. Therefore I am.
– Rene Descartes
[Cogito, ergo sum.]
Concept of Culture
Who are we?
Does a particular habit define us
as member of a culture?
i.e. Todd eats kimchi.
Is cultural association fixed or
flexible? Can it change through
life?
i.e. I used to be Korean, but…
Who decides what culture we
belong to?
Do different experiences weaken
or strengthen our cultural
identity?
Culture = shared
experiences & expectations