Human Identity and Bioethics

This book explores numerical and narrative accounts of identity, through philosophical and non-philosophical perspectives.

David DeGrazia (Author)

9780521825610, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 June 2005

316 pages
23.7 x 15.8 x 2.6 cm, 0.535 kg

When philosophers address personal identity, they usually explore numerical identity: what are the criteria for a person's continuing existence? When non-philosophers address personal identity, they often have in mind narrative identity: Which characteristics of a particular person are salient to her self-conception? This book develops accounts of both senses of identity, arguing that both are normatively important, and is unique in its exploration of a range of issues in bioethics through the lens of identity. Defending a biological view of our numerical identity and a framework for understanding narrative identity, DeGrazia investigates various issues for which considerations of identity prove critical: the definition of death; the authority of advance directives in cases of severe dementia; the use of enhancement technologies; prenatal genetic interventions; and certain types of reproductive choices. He demonstrates the power of personal identity theory to illuminate issues in bioethics as they bring philosophical theory to life.

1. Introduction
2. Human persons: numerical identity and essence
3. Human persons: narrative identity and self-creation
4. Identity, what we are, and the definition of death
5. Advance directives, dementia, and the someone else problem
6. Enhancement technologies and self-creation
7. Prenatal identity: genetic interventions, reproductive choices.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS], Analytical philosophy & Logical Positivism [HPCF5], Philosophy [HP]