Spring 2020 Colloquium - March 13
Trenton Merricks University of Virginia :: “Identity and What Matters”
Friday, March 13 2020
Abstract: There is a metaphysical literature on personal identity, which includes claims about the persistence of those objects that happen to be persons. There is an ethical literature on personal identity, which includes claims about when it is rational or appropriate to extend future-directed self-interested concern to a future person's experiences. A number of metaphysicians and ethicists have claimed that the metaphysics of persistence is irrelevant to practical questions such as when we should extend future-directed self-interested concern. But I shall argue that the metaphysics of persistence is directly relevant to arguments for, and conclusions about, these practical questions.
Talks are held at the Burnaby Campus in room WMC 3510 from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. They are free and open to the public.