Samuel Kahn, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA

Abstract: In this paper I want to address an issue at the intersection of the philosophy of personal identity and the philosophy of transgender identity: the fact that, on one influential way of framing the transgender experience, it is incompatible with, and therefore constitutes a challenge for, physiological continuity theories of personal identity. To see this, I begin by outlining the relevant part of physiological continuity theories. Then I turn to the relevant thesis about the transgender experience. After explaining why these are in tension, I conclude with two alternate ways of moving forward, arguing that, although both approaches face challenges, either suffices to avoid this tension.

Keywords: Transgender identity; personal identity; physiological continuity