- 1. Reasons and Persons is a groundbreaking philosophical work by Derek Parfit, published in 1984, which explores complex topics in moral philosophy, personal identity, and rationality. In this influential text, Parfit meticulously argues against the idea that personal identity is what matters for survival, proposing instead that psychological continuity is crucial. He delves into the implications of this view on ethics, suggesting that our understanding of moral obligations should focus on the reasons for our actions rather than the people who perform them. Parfit also examines the nature of rationality, discussing the conflicts that arise when individuals face dilemmas involving self-interest versus the greater good. Through a series of compelling thought experiments and rigorous analysis, he challenges traditional views on utilitarianism, morality, and the self, making the case for a new understanding of how we consider our responsibilities to others and ourselves. Reasons and Persons remains a seminal work in contemporary philosophy, prompting ongoing discussions about identity, ethics, and what it means to be a rational agent.
What is the central subject of Derek Parfit's 'Reasons and Persons'?
A) The philosophy of science and technology
B) Ancient Greek philosophy and its modern applications
C) Ethics, rationality, and personal identity
D) Political philosophy and economic systems
- 2. Parfit argues that personal identity is not what matters for survival. What does he claim matters instead?
A) The immutable soul
B) Psychological connectedness and continuity
C) Biological and genetic continuity
D) The continued existence of the physical body
- 3. Parfit is a major proponent of which ethical theory?
A) Divine Command Theory
B) Deontological Ethics
C) Consequentialism
D) Virtue Ethics
- 4. What is the 'Repugnant Conclusion'?
A) That we have no reason to care about future generations
B) That for any population, there is a better population with more lives barely worth living
C) That personal identity is an illusion
D) That all moral theories are ultimately self-defeating
- 5. Parfit's view on personal identity is most closely aligned with which school of thought?
A) Existentialism
B) Reductionism
C) Substantialism
D) Dualism
- 6. What is the 'Bundle Theory' of personal identity that Parfit discusses?
A) The self is a bundle of social contracts
B) The self is a bundle of perceptions and experiences
C) The self is a bundle of neurons
D) The self is a bundle of genetic material
- 7. Parfit suggests that if we accept his view of personal identity, we should become...
A) More selfish
B) Less concerned about our own future
C) Completely indifferent to others
D) More religious
- 8. According to Parfit, what is the 'Complex View' of personal identity?
A) Identity is determined by one's DNA sequence
B) Identity is a simple, unanalyzable fact
C) Identity is an immensely complex social construct
D) Identity consists in psychological continuity and connectedness
- 9. In discussing rationality, Parfit criticizes which theory for being indirectly self-defeating?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Kantian Deontology
C) Virtue Ethics
D) Self-interest Theory (S)
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