The Fission Argument for The Unimportance of Identity Cannot Be Correct

Noonan, Harold

Abstract

Eric Olson has made an important addition to the discussion started by Parfit of the argument from the possibility of fission to the unimportance of personal iden-tity. Olson’s discussion is challenging. I want, more briefly, to highlight what is the most important consequence of it. This is that it is metaphysically impossi-ble, impossible in the strongest sense, that any version of Parfit’s argument from fission can yield his conclusion. Olson argues specifically that this is impossible if what he calls a ‘capacious ontology’ is assumed. I argue that it is a consequence of Parfit’s reasoning that this is so even without the assumption of a capacious ontology.

Citation

Noonan, H. (in press). The Fission Argument for The Unimportance of Identity Cannot Be Correct. Argumenta,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 20, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Journal: Argumenta
• Electronic ISSN: 2465-2334
• Publisher: Italian Society for Analytic Philosophy
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/42203334