Personal identity theories ask what makes you the same person over time. Memory theories (you're the person whose experiences you remember) face the 'brave officer' paradox: an old general remembers being a young officer, who remembered being a boy—but the general doesn't remember being the boy. If identity is transitive but memory isn't, memory can't constitute identity. Psychological continuity theories amend this by allowing overlapping chains, but critics ask whether continuous psychological change could transform you into someone else entirely.
It can be inferred from the text that
the brave officer paradox supports memory theories of identity
identity is not transitive
psychological continuity theories face no objections
theories of personal identity may need to address both the nature of connections and the possibility of gradual transformation
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. Memory theory fails transitivity; psychological continuity faces transformation worries.
- Context clues: Memory theory fails due to transitivity issues; psychological continuity faces questions about gradual transformation.
- Meaning: Theories must handle both connection-type and transformation issues.
- Verify: Different problems affect different theories at different points.
💡 Strategy: When theories face distinct but related challenges, infer multiple aspects need addressing.
Choice A is incorrect because the paradox is a problem for memory theories. Choice B is incorrect because identity's transitivity is assumed; memory's non-transitivity causes the problem. Choice C is incorrect because critics raise the transformation objection against them.