Personal Identity

Personal Identity brings together the most important readings on personal identity theory. Brings together 13 of the most important readings on personal identity theory. Includes a detailed introductory historical essay, tracing the origins of personal identity theory. Features essays by David Lewis, Bernard Williams, Derek Parfit, and Robert Nozick. Describes the revolutionary shift from the "internal relations" view of personal identity to the "external relations" view. Includes a discussion on the controversial topic of animalism. Collectively offers a comprehensive introduction to the field.

Contributors. Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction: Personal Identity & What Matters in Survival: A Historical Overview: Raymond Martin (University of Maryland at College Park) and John Barresi (Dalhousie University). 1. The Self and the Future: Bernard Williams (All Souls, Oxford University). 2. Personal Identity through Time: Robert Nozick (Harvard University). 3. Why Our Identity is Not What Matters: Derek Parfit (All Souls, Oxford University). 4. Survival and Identity and Postscripts: David Lewis (Princeton University). 5. Personal Identity and the Unity of Agency: A Kantian Response to Parfit: Christine Korsgaard (Harvard University). 6. Fission and the Focus of One's Life: Peter Unger (New York University). 7. Surviving Matters: Ernest Sosa (Brown University). 8. Fission Rejuvenation: Raymond Martin (University of Maryland, College Park). 9. Empathic Access: The Missing Ingredient in Personal Identity: Marya Schechtman (University of Illinois at Chicago). 10. Human Concerns Without Superlative Selves: Mark Johnston (Princeton University). 11. The Unimportance of Identity: Derek Parfit (All Souls, Oxford University). 12. An Argument for Animalism: Eric Olson (Churchill College, Cambridge University). 13. The Self: Galen Strawson (Jesus College, Oxford University). Books on Personal Identity since 1970. Index.