Eskatolojik açıdan kişisel özdeşlik sorunu

Abstract

The thesis consists of three main chapters apart from introduction and conclusion. The introductory chapter gives information about the basic framework and the methodology generally followed in the thesis. The first chapter examines the nature of personal identity somewhat in details and provides an analysis of related concepts.The second chapter deals with various philosophical responses or approaches to the question of ?What is the ultimate reference of personal identity?? In this context, the following approaches are articulated and thoroughly examined respectively: (i) the physicalist or naturalist approaches which draw personal identity on material or bodily components, (ii) the psychological approaches which take memory to be the reference of personal identity and, (iii) the dualist or immaterialist approaches which explains personal identity in terms of soul or mind. In so doing, it is argued that the reference of personal identity can neither be reduced to a physical or bodily part nor be explained via psychological continuity in terms of memory or character. Rather, it is suggested that personal identity can only be secured by reference to a simple, indivisible immaterial substance such as soul or self.In the third chapter, the problem of personal identity is further discussed from an eschatological perspective. Here the necessity of personal identity in terms of personal continuity or sameness before and after death is underlined. Considering various answers to the question how are to secure such a continuity between the worldly-life and life after death, it is concluded that although soul, mind or self is the essential reference of such an identity there is a complementary need for a bodily existence. It is however argued that sameness of bodily existence is not required by a personal identity thus conceived.