What's the relation between a person's identity and soul?
January 23, 2006 8:14 AM   Subscribe

If you were to systematically replace all your 'human' parts with functionally equivalent manmade parts, would you be the same person?

...or would you have lost an integral part of your identity that many believe constitutes one's soul?
posted by idaniboy to Religion & Philosophy (4 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: "what if" metaphysical questions are not what AskMe is for.

 
do you get a new robot soul?

if you're functionally equivalenting everything in my brain we've got a pretty fucking zany situation at hand.
posted by soma lkzx at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2006


I think what you're asking can best be explained by others, dualism (philosophy of mind).

It's a complex topic that won't be answered here, there's books upon books on it.
posted by geoff. at 8:22 AM on January 23, 2006


No.

Most of not all of the atoms in your body are replaced many times during your lifetime. This flow of matter in and out of your body doesn't change who you are.

Ultimately, the knowledge of self and the feeling of continuity and persistence in time are more important than the physical stuff you're made of, which is always in flux.

Sorry if this is rather glib -- I'm not a philosopher.
posted by killdevil at 8:22 AM on January 23, 2006


...or would you have lost an integral part of your identity that many believe constitutes one's soul?

First, define soul in a way that can be physical mesured, then we can answer your question.
posted by delmoi at 8:24 AM on January 23, 2006


« Older Left too much tip!   |   What's going on down there? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.