The Administrative Soul

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Jul 14, 2026 · 49m

Language philosopher Bry Willis argues that the enduring metaphysical self is a fictional construct maintained by legal and social institutions for administrative convenience. Rather than a singular person persisting through time, Willis describes individuals as a series of connected episodes linked by a process of structured inheritance. Under this model, the present version of a person does not "equal" their past self but instead inherits specific obligations and assets through various bureaucratic and physical protocols. By deconstructing the concept of personal identity, the author…