Derek Parfit's view on personal identity is the idea that there is no such thing as a persisting self. He argues that our sense of self is a collection of ever-changing psychological states and experiences, rather than a distinct entity that remains the same over time.
Parfit's view differs from traditional views in that it rejects the notion of an enduring self or soul. Instead, he proposes that personal identity is a matter of psychological connectedness and continuity.
The main argument for Parfit's view is the thought experiment of the "Teletransporter." This hypothetical scenario involves a person being scanned and their information being transmitted to a different location to be reconstructed. Parfit argues that the reconstructed person would not be the same person as the original, thus challenging the traditional view of personal identity.
Some critics argue that Parfit's view undermines the significance of personal relationships and the concept of moral responsibility. Others argue that his view is too reductionist and does not fully capture the complexity of personal identity.
Parfit's view suggests that death is not the end of personal identity, as our sense of self is constantly changing and evolving. This challenges traditional beliefs about an afterlife or reincarnation, as there is no persisting self to continue on after death.