Existence must exist at all times.

[Ignorant]

I enjoy your arguments.  Are you now trying to inject the idea of soul as that which is the "me," and which since it by definition takes no changing form must be eternal? [1]

Is it not possible that "me" is really an idea, and that each moment the torch is passed to the next? [2] If the self may be an idea, then it seems a soul would be unnecessary in the sense of providing "me-ness." [3]

I'm glad my contributions don't annoy you!

1) No. I am not trying to inject anything. I am trying to tease out how the principle of identity in objects (I-am-being-me) fits within Alasdair's view. That need not involve a soul, much less an eternal one. An eternal soul fits into my view, but that doesn't mean it will with Alasdair's. Even so... read my forthcoming response to Alasdair to see something interesting pop up.

2) That is indeed possible. But is it actual? 

Also, "idea" doesn't help you much in contradicting the concept of a soul because "idea" is synonymous with the word "form", and the human "form" is synonymous with the word "soul". If the continuous and consistent "idea" of-the-human-self is passed from one moment to the next, you have just described a certain understanding of the soul. I know that isn't what you meant, but it illustrates the difficulty in accounting for identity on the one hand, and change on the other. This is the classical meaning of the principle of identity. Just something to think about in the language you may use in the future.

3) If the self may be an idea, it does not mean that it is indeed an idea. 

Even so:

SUPPOSING that the "self" IS merely an idea which is passed from one moment from the next: What is doing the passing in the current moment, and what other thing does the receiving in the next moment?

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@ ignorant

Your memories are what makes you you. Psychological continuity=your you-ness.

Thanks! Would someone who loses their memory or psychological continuity also lose their "self-ness"?

Do you attach any significance to the meaning of the Greek word "psyche", and its classical (not modern) usage on this topic, or is it just a coincidence?