One's Body

Some have argued that talk of the body or one's body in philosophical discussions is conceptually confused. In this paper, I provide an analysis of what “ x 's body” means that I believe overcomes difficulties raised for other suggested definitions. The definition of “ x 's body” provided here serves to vindicate talk of one's body in philosophical discussions, showing that it is not conceptually suspect as some have claimed. Knowing what makes something one's body will presumably also be of some use when trying to answer difficult questions regarding how we relate to our bodies (whether we are identical with our bodies, whether we are constituted by them, whether they are a part of us, etc.).