Beginning Philosophy

Paper #2
Due Friday April 30, 2010 in class.

Answer one of the following two assignments in a 5-to-7-page paper (double-spaced, 10 to 12-point font).

1. Personal Identity Paper
Consider the following thought experiment:

You have been hired by the CIA to operate as an international spy. You are told that you will be wiped of your memories and given the memories of an enemy spy (you are not told if these are someone's real memories, or if the memories are of a fictional sort), and sent into enemy territory. You are not told what happens to your real memories. After a sufficient amount of time has passed, you will be "kidnapped" and your original memories will be restored, but you will retain the enemy spy's memories (both what was given to you and what you acquired in enemy territory) so that you can give this information to the CIA.

Regardless of the way the thought experiment is phrased, would you exist:
  1. after your memories are wiped?
  2. after the enemy spy's memories are inserted?
  3. after time has been spent in enemy territory?
  4. after your original memories are restored (in addition to the enemy spy memories)?
If you cease to exist at any point in this process, provide an argument for why this is the case. If you continue to exist throughout the process, provide an argument for why this is the case. If you cease to exist at some point in the process but reappear later, provide an argument for why this is the case. If something else is going on, provide an argument for this view.

What are the implications of your view for ordinary life?

In answering, discuss in some depth the views of at least two of John Perry, Bernard Williams, Derek Parfit, and Daniel Dennett. You must include in your discussion at least one strong objection to your view, and a response to that objection.

OR

2. Minds & Consciousness Paper
Consider the following thought experiment:

In the not-too-distant future, CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, announces the release of their newest invention, the "iPerson," a robot that they claim is capable of (1) experiencing qualia, and (2) experiencing your qualia. Jobs is quick to assure the public that the iPerson is not in any way biological, but is simply running an extremely advanced program.

Are either (or both) of Jobs' claims about the iPerson impossible? Why or why not? What does this tell us about the nature of our minds?

In answering, discuss in some depth the views of at least two of Alan Turing, John Searle, Thomas Nagel, Frank Jackson, and David Lewis. You must include in your discussion at least one strong objection to your view, and a response to that objection.