Bodily continuity
Bodily continuity is the philosophical concept that personal identity is preserved through the continuous, unbroken existence of a single physical body. This view suggests that for a person to be the “same” person over time, their body must be the same physical entity, even as individual cells and parts change. It is often contrasted with psychological continuity theories, which focus on memory and consciousness, and is challenged by thought experiments like the Ship of Theseus.
Key aspects of bodily continuity
What it is: The theory that what makes you the same person over time is the continued existence of one and the same physical body.
How it works: Even though your body’s matter changes, a continuous stream of existence means the “you” at one point is the same as the “you” at another.
For example, the infant Greg is the same person as the adult Greg because one body persisted and developed into the other.
Challenges:
The Ship of Theseus: This ancient paradox questions whether an object that has had all its parts replaced is still the original object. Applied to humans, it raises questions about whether a body that has undergone complete cell replacement is still the “same” body.
Teletransportation paradox: Thought experiments like Derek Parfit’s teleporter problem suggest that if a person’s body is scanned, destroyed, and then perfectly reconstructed elsewhere, the continuity of the physical body is broken, even if the new person is identical in every way.
Relation to other concepts:
Psychological continuity: This is a competing theory that emphasizes the role of memory, consciousness, and personality in maintaining personal identity. Bodily continuity theory argues that while psychological factors are important, they are secondary to the underlying physical structure
Personal identity: Bodily continuity is one specific theory of personal identity, which is the philosophical study of what makes a person the same person over time.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/intro-philosophy/biological-continuity-theory
[2] https://philosophynow.org/issues/97/A_Philosophical_Identity_Crisis
[3] https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/81990/physicalism-continuity-of-personal-identity