The Three Christs of Ypsilanti

 The 2017 film The Three Christs of Ypsilanti tells the story of a psychiatrist at a mental hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the 1950’s.   Three patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia claim to be Jesus Christ.  One of the patients, known as Joseph, claims to remember events from the life of Jesus, including his execution by crucifixion.  

 

If Joseph claim to remember events such as the Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes and Wedding Feast at Cana, according to the memory view, isn’t Joesph the same person as Jesus Christ?  Is this a problem?  If so, is this problem decisive or is there any way to fix the problem (and adapt the memory view)? 

The Brave Officer Paradox

 The philosopher Thomas Reid had this objection to Locke’s view of personal identity: 

There is another consequence of this doctrine, which follows no less necessarily, though Mr. Locke probably did not see it. It is, that a man may be, and at the same time not be, the person that did a particular action. Suppose a brave officer to have been flogged when a boy at school for robbing an orchard, to have taken a standard from the enemy in his first campaign, and to have been made a general in advanced life; suppose, also, which must be admitted to be possible, that, when he took the standard, he was conscious of his having been flogged at school, and that, when made a general, he was conscious of his taking the standard, but had absolutely lost the consciousness of his flogging.  

These things being supposed, it follows, from Mr. Locke’s doctrine, that he who was flogged at school is the same person who took the standard, and that he who took the standard is the same person who was made a general. Whence it follows, if there be any truth in logic, that the general is the same person with him who was flogged at school. But the general’s consciousness does not reach so far back as his flogging; therefore, according to Mr. Locke’s doctrine, he is not the person who was flogged. Therefore the general is, and at the same time is not, the same person with him who was flogged at school. 

 

What is the problem for the memory view?   Is  this problem decisive or is there any way to fix the problem (and adapt the memory view)? 

Weavers, and Lyres, and Souls, Oh My!

 In response to Socrates' assertions that the soul is immortal, Simmias and Cebes raise serious objections to the idea that the soul is immortal or can even survive the death of the body.  Simmias presents his objection uses the analogy of the harmony of a lyre [85e-86d], while Cebes using the image of a weaver and a cloak[87c-88c].    

Can you explain ONE of these objections?  Does Socrates have a valid response -- or can you construct one for him?

Immortality of the Soul?

Facing his execution with some of his closest friends (as described in the Phaedo), Socrates dismisses an gloomy predictions about his death: death is a good thing and something that he is confident he will outlast.  What is the basis of this confidence? Socrates develops three arguments for the immortality of the soul.  If just ONE of these arguments is sound, he will have demonstrated that we all have a reason to cheer for the Grim Reaper.  But is he correct?

Examine ONE of Socrates' arguments in the Phaedo, briefly describing its main points.  What is one problem or objection to that argument?  Is there any way Socrates can address, avoid or otherwise get around that objection?

What Can I Hope For?

 In the Phaedo when Socrates is faced with an imminent execution he is cheerful and confident that he has nothing to worry about.  He believes that death is not a problem at all because the soul is immortal.  But should have a reason to worry?  In this post let's not consider the arguments for the immortality of the soul but rather the connection between the soul, personal identity and surviving death. 

What theory of personal identity is he basing his confidence on?  Putting aside the stronger claim that the soul is immortal, does he have any good reason to think he can (it is possible to) survive death on this theory?