[ExI] Minds, Personalities, and Love

[Thomas]

Jef Allbright wrote:

> [...]  "[human agency] is subtly distinct from the
> concept of free will, the philosophical doctrine that our choices are
> not the product of causal chains, but are significantly free or
> undetermined. Human agency entails the uncontroversial, weaker claim
> that humans do in fact make decisions and enact them on the world."
>
> [For Thomas, the above statement indicates why thinking in terms of
> agency is more coherent and extensible than thinking in terms of will.
> Will is more of a special case.]

Yes, I agree with the rider that will, defined as "the faculty of  
conscious and especially of deliberate action" cannot be excluded  
from qualifying personhood.   Free-from-determinism-will makes no sense.
>
> [...] Consciousness (and Will) goes along for the ride,
> not because it's essential, but because it's value-added.

Not essential for life or observable identity, but personality?   
Without capacity for consciousness you lose your personhood.    
Someone else might see you as a person, but they have a sad  
misunderstanding of the facts. -- Thomas

Thomas at ThomasOliver.net

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