Bernard Williams Theory
The paper “The Self and The Future” is written by Bernard Williams. It depicts two very similar cases and stirs a discussion between whether the psychological continuity theory or bodily continuity theory is more relevant when it comes to our personal identity. Psychological continuity is a view that is based on the principle that our personal identity is associated with our thoughts and memories. Bodily continuity theory is a view that as long as we have the same body, we are the same person. Throughout the essay, Williams uses many different scenarios and predicts the outcomes of those scenarios. The first scenario shows that our personal identity is based on psychological continuity while the second scenario demonstrates that personal identity
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The first is the way in which these two cases are presented to the reader. Third person approach is used to describe the first experiment. The author uses words like A-body-person and B-body person for the people involved. He also does not go into details of the personal feelings and opinions of the people, therefore, using an objective style of writing. On the other hand, in the second case author uses words like “me” and “I” using the second person approach to explain the situation. He also describes “my” feelings elaborately using examples like “…thinking perhaps that I am George IV or somebody… (168, Williams)” thus making the tone of the writing subjective. According to Williams it is not because of this kind of approach that I am afraid of my future in second scenario because my fear is based on the principle that “that my undergoing physical pain in the future is not excluded by any psychological state I may be in at the time… (169, Williams)”. Hence, I would be afraid regardless of what tone was used in describing the scenario. Therefore, “We have yet to find a reason for saying that he should not have done this… if he does; I seem to be able to follow him only too well” (171, Williams). The use of this tone should not deter one from understanding the core concept and as long as that is done, it does not matter what tone is used. The second difference is that B-body person is left out in the second experiment, which makes a profound change in my thinking and will be discussed
The first is the way in which these two cases are presented to the reader. Third person approach is used to describe the first experiment. The author uses words like A-body-person and B-body person for the people involved. He also does not go into details of the personal feelings and opinions of the people, therefore, using an objective style of writing. On the other hand, in the second case author uses words like “me” and “I” using the second person approach to explain the situation. He also describes “my” feelings elaborately using examples like “…thinking perhaps that I am George IV or somebody… (168, Williams)” thus making the tone of the writing subjective. According to Williams it is not because of this kind of approach that I am afraid of my future in second scenario because my fear is based on the principle that “that my undergoing physical pain in the future is not excluded by any psychological state I may be in at the time… (169, Williams)”. Hence, I would be afraid regardless of what tone was used in describing the scenario. Therefore, “We have yet to find a reason for saying that he should not have done this… if he does; I seem to be able to follow him only too well” (171, Williams). The use of this tone should not deter one from understanding the core concept and as long as that is done, it does not matter what tone is used. The second difference is that B-body person is left out in the second experiment, which makes a profound change in my thinking and will be discussed