Identity in Science Fiction : Brain Transplants and Other Misadventures

Featuring classic authors and brand new work, we are confronted with a fundamental metaphysical challenge in 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 replacement of our brains by machine parts? Each story is accompanied by an introductory overview and examination of the philosophical arguments behind it. Alongside deeper appreciation of stories by authors such as Roald Dahl, John Varley, 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’ investigates the existence of the soul, when a mysterious cat appears to be reincarnation of a long-dead composer. 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.