Distributing Identity by Phillip Baron (Lewis & Clark College)

Phillip Barron (Lewis & Clark College)

Contemporary work in the metaphysics of personal identity comprises a three-way stand-off between the body continuity theories, psychological continuity theories, and narrative continuity theories. Not only does each category of theories result in either an internal contradiction or a conclusion that is at odds with vernacular uses of the term “identity,” I propose that all three categories of metaphysics approaches to identity face a unified objection: they presume a level of objectivity that belies the negotiation of our identities. In this talk, I will outline the advantages of using phenomenology as an alternative to theorizing about personal identity. In the end, I offer an account of personal identity that suggests that identity is a distributed phenomenon. If one’s identity is intelligible only in the context of the world, then one’s circumstances are part of their identity.