ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by introducing personal identity as an object of study, partly in its contrast to social identity. In keeping with the literary focus of the book, the chapter first develops the topic of personal identity as an intellectual problem by considering Walt Whitman’s idea of “the Me myself.” The chapter goes on to differentiate the book’s method from standard, philosophical approaches to the topic. In connection with this, it emphasizes the real-life significance of personal identity. That significance is not usually captured in the kind of thought experiments that often concern philosophers who treat the topic. It is represented in a richer, more existentially relevant way by literature. The Introduction concludes with an outline of the chapters in the book.
