Deck 18: How to Live a Never-Ending Novela

Question 1

According to the narrative view of personal identity

A) You cannot live forever.
B) Your life is like an autobiography.
C) Homer did not write the Odyssey.
D) All of the above.

Answer 1

Your life is like an autobiography.

Question 2

The boredom objection to the desirability of immortality

A) Is obviously correct.
B) Is obviously incorrect.
C) Is really a dilemma: given immortality, you'll either become bored or become a different person.
D) Is the subject of an immensely popular subgenre of soap operas.

Answer 2

Is really a dilemma: given immortality, you'll either become bored or become a different person.

Question 3

One version of the argument that immortality would undermine identity focuses on

A) One's ability to know who one is.
B) One's ability to fit on a shelf.
C) The idea that aging is like a disease.
D) None of the above

Answer 3

One's ability to know who one is.

Question 4

Mitchell-Yellin contends that arguments for the claim that immortality would undermine individuality ignore

A) The cardinality of infinity.
B) The genius of Joni Mitchell.
C) The importance of our expectation that we will one day die.
D) The role of history.

Question 5

In what sense does Mitchell-Yellin suggest one might continue to care about an immortal life?

A) Eager anticipation of its consummation
B) Continued emotional investment in it
C) Divine intervention
D) None of the above

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.

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?