[extropy-chat] Agency as Prime Determinant of Personal Identity

[BillK]

On 11/10/06, Heartland wrote:
<snip>
> Not yet, Lee. So far you've identified the correct criterion (capacity to preserve
> life) by which we should judge importance of X vs. Y. Next part is the evaluation
> of your X (memories) with respect to that criterion. In other words, using a
> non-arbitrary definition of life (this is crucial) please show me how "preservation
> of memories" implies "preservation of life?"
>

If you had ever lived for years with an old person who was developing
Alzheimer's disease with gradually failing memory, you would
appreciate that after a certain stage in the disease the 'mind' has
died. The body is still 'alive' and walking around but the person that
you knew for years has died.

BillK