The word “is” has many meanings, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with identity. If you say “I am hungry”, it doesn't mean that your hunger is your en

The word “is” has many meanings, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with identity. If you say “I am hungry”, it doesn't mean that your hunger is your entire identity. “I am a retributivist” and “I ascribe to retributivism” are completely equivalent sentences.