Identity in Science Fiction: Brain Transplants and Other Misadventures

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In the first science fiction and philosophy anthology to focus on identity, a set of exemplary stories raise deep questions about who and what we are. Featuring classic authors and brand new work, we are confronted with a fundamental metaphysical topic within every story. Are we souls, brains, animals, or patterns of information Are the Buddhists right to say that the self is an illusion Do we survive under conditions such as total amnesia, or the destruction of the body Each story is accompanied by an introductory overview and narrative explaining the ideas and the principal philosophical arguments behind it.

Alongside deeper appreciation of stories by authors such as Roald Dahl, John Varly, J. R. Dawson and Ursula Le Guin, we are seamlessly introduced to the philosophy of personal identity through memorable fiction:

- The Barbie Murders depicts a society in which each member conforms to a strict template for their physical and mental characteristics.
- Marley and Marley follows a middle-aged woman who takes part in a government program to travel back in time to take care of her orphaned younger self.
- Edward the Conqueror illustrates the concept of the soul, as an essence of a person that persists while other things about them may change.

Thought-provoking and highly entertaining, this one-of-a-kind anthology challenges traditional beliefs around how we see ourselves and allows us to understand what it means to be human.

Author Bio

Tom Cochrane is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Flinders University, Australia. He is author of The Emotional Power of Music (2013), The Emotional Mind (2018) and The Aesthetic Value of the World (2021).