Brain Identity Research Paper

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I, John Perry, solemnly swear to speak the truth as I have witnessed the manslaughter of a young individual. I testify that his father, Harry Vladek, as well as surgeon, Dr. Nicholson, are guilty of manslaughter through a surgical procedure in which a mentally distraught patient, Tommy, became host to the brain of a physically impaired child, who was identified as Sam. The surgery was performed in an attempt to eliminate Tommy's mental disabilities, in hopes of ultimately bringing ease to his father. However, through the use of numerous concepts and theories, I can confirm that the boy who emerged from the surgery room was indeed not Tommy, but rather identified as Sam, which will confirm that the surgeon and the patient's father are guilty …show more content…
Brain identity suggests that to have the same brain is to be the same person, regardless of any other factors (TP 197). One issue with this, however, is that the theory of brain identity relies severely on the importance of the brain, although, we do not consider personal identity to be based on other vital organs such as the liver or heart (TP 198). The rationale behind this is simply that the brain is responsible for our mental life, including our memories, beliefs, and mental well-being. Vladek understood the relevance of the brain unlike other organs in this situation and, for this reason, arose the concern that if the body contained Sam's brain, it would self-identify as Sam. With Sam's brain, beliefs, and memories, the individual can no longer be referred to as Tommy, which proves that Tommy was a victim to …show more content…
What if, with scientific advancements in the future, the brain could be removed from the body, analysed in a machine, and then a new replacement brain, made of some other substance, emerges from the machine. This brain is identical to the previous in regard to memories, hope, emotion, and so on, except for the alteration of whichever factor which signalled the impairment of the original (TP 198). This arises the thought that perhaps the brain is of lesser importance in regard to personal identity, rather, it is what is inside the brain, the mind or consciousness, that is of particular importance. This understanding of the brain simply being a container for the mind is optimal in this cause of the death of Tommy Vladek for those that believe in reincarnation or in heaven (TP 199). In either scenario, the brain disintegrates equally with the rest of the body. For Tommy Vladek, or even the example given of the prince in the cobbler's body, we can tell no more about his identity by looking at his body than we can by looking at his brain. For this reason, we continue to argue the death of Tommy Vladek by emphasizing the sameness of mind or consciousness as a determinant of personal
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