Parfit's closest-continuer refinement of the memory criterion explicitly requires only that psychological continuity hold across intervals where consciousness is present, not across every moment.

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Closest-continuer refinement(Parfit's update to an older theory): A modification or improvement to a theory that says you remain the same person by being the best match to your past self in terms of continuity and connection.
Parfit: Derek Parfit was a highly influential British philosopher known for revolutionizing how we think about personal identity, morality, and what makes life worth living. He argued that our sense of being a continuous, unified "self" is partly an illusion, and that what really matters is the continuation of our thoughts and experiences, not some invisible thread connecting us through time. His ideas have shaped modern ethics and how philosophers approach questions about identity, responsibility, and how we should treat future generations.
consciousness(Philosophy of mind; framing the 'What is consciousness?' question): A dynamic process characterized by self-transforming flow, intentional coherence, and semantic self-understanding, rather than a static or momentary state.
memory criterion(Philosophy of personal identity)

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