PHIL202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Derek Parfit, Zygote, Theory X And Theory Y
3 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Derek parfit, in reasons and persons (1984), provided a stimulating and ground-breaking discussion of some problems in this area. Focus points: the non-identity problem, problems of overpopulation. The time-dependence claim (td2: second version [amended one]) Would you have existed if your parents have each married (and reproduced) with different people: what if your parents meet but marry other people. The time-dependence claim: if any person has not been conceived within a month of the time when she/he in fact conceived, it is in fact true that she/he would never have existed. There is no way you could have for you to have existed if you were not conceived if my parents had no conceived me within the month they did, the child would have been born but not me . Parfit believes that this argument is so weak that it has to be accepted. Issue: what would have made it the case that you did not exists.
