Question 1

According to the narrative view of personal identity&#10;A) You cannot live forever.&#10;B) Your life is like an autobiography.&#10;C) Homer did not write the Odyssey.&#10;D) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

The narrative view of personal identity sees our lives as a story that we are constantly authoring and revising. This view emphasizes the importance of personal experiences, memories, and self-reflection in shaping our sense of identity. While this view does not necessarily address the possibility of immortality or the authorship of specific literary works, it does suggest that our lives are inherently meaningful and significant in the same way that a well-crafted autobiography can be.

Question 2

The boredom objection to the desirability of immortality&#10;A) Is obviously correct.&#10;B) Is obviously incorrect.&#10;C) Is really a dilemma: given immortality, you'll either become bored or become a different person.&#10;D) Is the subject of an immensely popular subgenre of soap operas.

Accepted Answer

The boredom objection is a well-known argument against the desirability of immortality. If one were to live forever, they would eventually run out of things to do and become bored. However, the alternative to becoming bored is to continually change as a person, which some may argue is not desirable either. Therefore, the boredom objection presents a dilemma that must be considered when discussing the desirability of immortality.

Question 3

One version of the argument that immortality would undermine identity focuses on&#10;A) One's ability to know who one is.&#10;B) One's ability to fit on a shelf.&#10;C) The idea that aging is like a disease.&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The argument is that if we were to live forever, we would have so many experiences and memories that we may not be able to keep track of who we are or remember our past selves. This would undermine our identity and sense of self.

Question 4

Mitchell-Yellin contends that arguments for the claim that immortality would undermine individuality ignore&#10;A) The cardinality of infinity.&#10;B) The genius of Joni Mitchell.&#10;C) The importance of our expectation that we will one day die.&#10;D) The role of history.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mitchell-Yellin contends that arguments for the claim...

Question 5

In what sense does Mitchell-Yellin suggest one might continue to care about an immortal life?&#10;A) Eager anticipation of its consummation&#10;B) Continued emotional investment in it&#10;C) Divine intervention&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Mitchell-Yellin suggests that one might continue to care about an immortal life by maintaining emotional investment in it, even if it may never reach a consummation or receive divine intervention.

Question 6

What is the narrative view of personal identity? And how does it appear to conflict with the desire for immortality? Sketch the two related, yet distinct worries about how immortality would undermine personal identity covered in this chapter. For each worry, explain why you do or do not find it convincing, making reference to the considerations provided in the chapter.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the narrative view of personal...

Question 7

What are some of the reasons listed in the chapter for why people have thought immortality would not be desirable, other than the ones having to do with personal identity. What are the reasons mentioned for thinking these worries are not seriously problematic. Having listed some of the considerations on both sides of the issue, explain what you think about the desirability of immortality. Might it be worthwhile? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the reasons listed...

Deck 18: How to Live a Never-Ending Novela