Plasticity, Numerical Identity, and Transivity

Kahn, Samuel

doi:10.5840/ipq2023825201

International Philosophical Quarterly

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published on August 26, 2023

Samuel Kahn

https://doi.org/10.5840/ipq2023825201

Plasticity, Numerical Identity, and Transivity

In a recent paper, Chunghyoung Lee argues that, because zygotes are developmentally plastic, they cannot be numerically identical to the singletons into which they develop, thereby undermining conceptionism. In this short paper, I respond to Lee. I argue, first, that, on the most popular theories of personal identity, zygotic plasticity does not undermine conceptionism, and, second, that, even overlooking this first issue, Lee’s plasticity argument is problematic. My goal in all of this is not to take a stand in the abortion debate, which I remain silent on here, but, rather, to push for the conclusion that transitivity fails when we are talking about numerical identity of non-abstract objects.

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