Personal identity - the question of what, if anything, makes an individual the same person despite change over time - is an idea that has interested philosophers since antiquity. Christopher Shields discusses this topic in this Philosophy Bites interview.
Listen to Christopher Shields on Personal Identity
In the case of the testator whose will is challenged we do not say he is no longer himself, but that the self he has become is so disconnected from the reality of others he can no longer be allowed to control himself. Of course, other mental or personal identity states create similar issues.
Posted by: Ivan Strand | March 29, 2009 at 04:12 AM