Personal Identity
Location
CSU 202
Start Date
10-4-2018 10:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2018 11:00 AM
Student's Major
Philosophy
Student's College
Arts and Humanities
Mentor's Name
Julie Wulfemeyer
Mentor's Department
Philosophy
Mentor's College
Arts and Humanities
Description
According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, John Locke holds that personal identity is a matter of psychological continuity that is, for a person X to survive an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient that there exists, at a time after the adventure, a person Y who psychologically evolved out of X. In his essay concerning human understanding which includes a passage on “Identity and Diversity”, John Locke argued that personal identity is based on the sameness of individual consciousness and that consciousness makes up the term “self”. According to Locke, “since consciousness always accompanies thinking, and tis that that makes everyone to be what he calls self; and distinguishes himself from all other thinking things; in this alone consists personal identity, i.e. the sameness of a rational being” (302). There have been several debates by philosophers following Locke's essay about what constitutes personal identity focusing on the role of consciousness and memory. Paul Helm, a philosopher who wrote a paper titled, Locke on Personal Identity holds that memory is the evidence for personal identity and the role of consciousness in personal identity is logical and metaphysical. In this research project, I will deconstruct the term, “consciousness” by explaining that it does not only mean to be aware of things but also the perception and remembrance of different things at different points in time. I will be arguing that the definition of consciousness should include memory and by only this can it account for what constitutes personal identity.
Personal Identity
CSU 202
According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, John Locke holds that personal identity is a matter of psychological continuity that is, for a person X to survive an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient that there exists, at a time after the adventure, a person Y who psychologically evolved out of X. In his essay concerning human understanding which includes a passage on “Identity and Diversity”, John Locke argued that personal identity is based on the sameness of individual consciousness and that consciousness makes up the term “self”. According to Locke, “since consciousness always accompanies thinking, and tis that that makes everyone to be what he calls self; and distinguishes himself from all other thinking things; in this alone consists personal identity, i.e. the sameness of a rational being” (302). There have been several debates by philosophers following Locke's essay about what constitutes personal identity focusing on the role of consciousness and memory. Paul Helm, a philosopher who wrote a paper titled, Locke on Personal Identity holds that memory is the evidence for personal identity and the role of consciousness in personal identity is logical and metaphysical. In this research project, I will deconstruct the term, “consciousness” by explaining that it does not only mean to be aware of things but also the perception and remembrance of different things at different points in time. I will be arguing that the definition of consciousness should include memory and by only this can it account for what constitutes personal identity.
Recommended Citation
Ogunnowo, Omoleso. "Personal Identity." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 10, 2018.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2018/oral-session-02/3
