Reflected View on the Personal Afterlife Cover Image

Reflected View on the Personal Afterlife
Reflected View on the Personal Afterlife

Author(s): Daniel Krchňák
Subject(s): Epistemology, Philosophy of Science
Published by: Filozofický ústav SAV
Keywords: afterlife; Marya Schechtman; reflected equilibrium; Pascal’s wager; personal identity; person-life; Radim Bělohrad; Samuel Scheffler;

Summary/Abstract: In this paper, I try to argue that, from the methodological position of reflected equilibrium, it seems to be reasonable to build a theory of personal identity that enables a person to continue her existence after the biological death of her body. This conclusion is supported by the argument that our practice reflects that our identity-presupposing concerns reach beyond biological continuity. We have also good reasons to maintain such concerns and practices. As the best candidate to implement such concerns in a theoretical account of practical identity, I will identify the person-life view, where personal identity depends to a great extent on social conditions. I also show how this theory can implement the classical belief in the afterlife, and how it could conceptualize the difference of the afterlife from a physicalistic and a theistic point of view.

  • Issue Year: 25/2018
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 196-214
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: English