Parfit's own argument in 'Reasons and Persons' shows that what matters in survival is psychological continuity itself, not identity, revealing the view conflates two distinct normative and metaphysical questions.
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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.
Reasons and Persons(as the source text)
A landmark 1984 philosophy book by Derek Parfit that explores how we should live and make decisions, especially when our personal interests conflict with what's best for everyone.
psychological continuity(Philosophy of personal identity)
A relation holding between a person at one time and a being at a later time when the later being inherits the memories, intentions, beliefs, and psychological states of the earlier person.