John Lockes Person Identity - 1651 Words

Identify is needed to determine existence. How to you determine the existence of an object according to John Locke it must be compared in a state via a determine place and time, to itself at a separate place and time (Locke 367L). An object cannot exist at the same time in two separate places. For example, a 20 ounce bottle of coke at a gas station in Kentucky and another 20 ounce bottle of coke in an airport in Denver do not share the same identity. This is because while they may share every single trait, the fact that they exist in separate places at the same time makes them separate objects that do not share the same identity. From this brief understanding of identity Locke creates his theory of personal identity. Locke first makes the important distinction between non-living objects and living objects. The identity of a non-living object, a bundle of atoms, changes, â€Å"if one of these atoms is taken away, or one new one added, it is no longer the same mass or the same body.† (Locke 368R). In Locke’s theory the moment the atoms change even in the slightest bit with one atom being lost or added the bundle of atoms are no longer the same bundle that existed before the addition/subtraction of atoms. For example, if a stick of chalk made a line on a blackboard for every time one atom of chalk left stick to form the line a completely new stick of chalk would exist. This concept of constant changing identity with the slightest modification does not extend to livingShow MoreRelatedJohn Locke s Argument For Personal Identity Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagesthis essay is to define what Personal Identity is by analyzing John Locke’s argument for Personal Identity. John Locke’s argument for Personal Identity will be examined, in order to establish a better understanding of whether or not the argument for personal identity could be embraced. In order to do so, the essay will i) State and explain Locke’s argument that we are not substances or mere souls and ii) State and explain Locke’s concept of personal identity and its relations to what he calls selfRead MoreEssay about Why Is Personal Identity Important in Lockes View?1596 Words   |  7 Pagesessay Of Identity and Diversity, Locke talks about the importance of personal identity. The title of his essay gives an idea of his view. Identity, according to Locke, is the memory and self consciousness, and diversity is the faculty to transfer memories across bodies and souls. In order to make his point more understandable, Locke defines man and person. Locke identifies a man as an animal of a certai n form and a person as a thinking intelligent being. Furthermore, to Locke, a person has reasonsRead MoreJohn Locke s Theory Of Self And Personal Identity Essay1449 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Locke a seventeenth century Philosopher uses a number of thought experiments in his 1690 account, ’An Essay concerning Human Understanding’. He uses these thought experiments to help explain his definition of the self and personal identity. The thought experiments that are used, go some way in explaining his opinions and in clarifying the role that memory plays in defining the term. Although defining personal identity was and still is a complex subject and not all philosophers share the sameRead MoreJohn Locke Is Wrong And Identity Of Humans1535 Words   |  7 Pagesis a person? What makes a person, a person? Are humans just made of atoms and molecules just like what the scientists say? Or are humans something else, a soul perhaps? This has been debated for centuries by great phi losophers, and one of them is John Locke. His idea of identity of a human is that humans are conscious beings thus their identity involve consciousness. However, Thomas Reid believes that Locke is wrong and identity of humans are transitive. But Locke’s To John Locke, identity of aRead MoreJohn Locke And Personal Identity1224 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke states that personal identity is a matter of physiological continuity that is based on the consciousness of a person rather than the individual’s body. Personal identity is constituted by memory connections; specifically the depiction of autobiographical memory connections that result in constituting personal identity. John Locke states that a person’s personality and psychology can be transferred to another body and that individual can still stay the same person because the consciousnessRead MoreLocke And John Lockes Theory On Personal Identity860 Words   |  4 Pages Personal Identity or ‘Self’ has been a very important topic for philosophers for many years. Personal identity is how you describe or think of being which is derived from memories that have taken place over the years. John Locke was a philosopher who believed that your ‘Self’ or personal identity come from memory which is also referred to as consciousness in Locke’s writings. Locke believed that you are who you are, because your thoughts are yours alone no matter the vessel. However, in this paperRead MoreThe Use Of Dualism With The Mind Body Problem Essay923 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosopher: John Locke is an English philosopher born in 1632 and died in 1704. He is one of the most influential philosopher to attack the concept of dualism with the Mind-Body problem. Topic: John Locke is very keen on personal identity. He believes that consciousness creates personal identity. The body isn’t essential, so when a person’s soul fleets to a different body, they are still the same person because their consciousness thrives: â€Å"Personal Identity is wherever the consciousness is† (John Locke’sRead MoreEssay about The View of Self1177 Words   |  5 Pages The view of the self and the theory of personal identity are one of the most interesting topics in the world of philosophy. It attempts to answer the question as to what makes the person now the same person that existed a year (or any period of time) ago. The world is constantly evolving and becoming more technologically proficient; ones identity is becoming more difficult to define. John Locke, an early modern philosopher, is credited as being the firstRead MoreJohn Locke And The Self863 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Locke and â€Å"the Self† Like Hobbes, John Locke was influenced by the scientific revolution and civil war. His notions about the self reflect a concern with all of these realms, names, religion, science, politics and social life. Locke believes in order to exist after death, there has to be a person after death who is the same person as the person who died. Consciousness can be transferred from on substance to another, and thus, while the soul is changed, consciousness remains the same, therebyRead MoreEssay Personal Identity 1209 Words   |  5 PagesThe two positions of personal identity over-time consider whether we are ‘tracking persons’ or ‘human beings’. Through analysing Locke’s account of personal identity and his definition of a ‘person’, the first side of this argument will be explained. However in opposition to Locke’s theory, the second position that considers us as ‘human beings’ will also be assessed, as advocated by animalist s such as Olson. In response to this examples of cases such as amnesia will also be taken into consideration