identity, character and moral responsibility

see the diagram below: character is a process which emerges from the different pi becoming Np. character consists of a sum of behavioral traits or "notes," which are evaluated by witnesses in response to a diversity of relevant trait-eliciting conditions.

1. it's clear that character happens in time. thus,

2. one cannot fully grasp a person's character, only character notes.

3. the person grasping these notes is a witness. subject and witness belong in a context.

4. since contexts always change, different witnesses obtain different notes.

Character has a certain automatic quality (because it's a function of your memories, desires and beliefs). On the other hand, its traits are part of your narrative, Np which supervenes on the series of notes.

So, though you are a self-generating process from the inside, you are your character on the outside.  

Also, character is a function of many witnesses you interact with. ch= f(w)

Remember:

A person's character consists of traits (notes) in response to external stimuli. These notes are:
1- public, objective,
2- negotiable, based on stimulus response.
3- your character is different to different witnesses because of the specific contexts causing the different notes.
4- character is slower than personal identity (identity being the process felt from the inside)

read the Robert and Frank story on p. 245. we learn that Robert may not be responsible for Frank's crimes (at least they are minimized by Robert's change of character). in fact, character becomes paramount in punishment and rehabilitation. character is fundamental to adjudicate moral responsibility because it's objective.

AS LONG AS YOUR SELF-CONSCIOUS CHOICES PRODUCE A CONSISTENT CHARACTER (a consistent self-disposition to act to external stimuli) YOU CAN BE HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU DO. 

We have the following important conclusions between personal id., self-narrative, moral agents:

PERSONAL ID. IS NEITHER PHYSICAL NOR PSYCHOLOGICAL. IDENTITY CAN ONLY HOLD BETWEEN THE SELF ITSELF.  (NUMBER WINS OVER QUALITY)

PERSONAL ID. IS A SELF-GENERATING PROCESS (YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE NOT).

PERSONAL ID. IS NOT A NECESSARY CONDITION FOR SURVIVAL (Parfit-the-copy survives Parfit-the-original).

THE SELF IS CONSTITUTED BY THE SELF'S NARRATIVE (Np). HAVING A NARRATIVE (Np) IS A NECESSARY CONDITION FOR ACTING RESPONSIBLY (people with DID cannot be considered responsible individuals).