Analysis of Philosophical Arguments of Self-Identity
Who or what is the essence of “you”? What is the difference of your mind versus your body; are they the same or entirely different entities? The answers can have significant meanings for the legal and ethical system, not to mention personal beliefs. The views of Thomas Locke and David Humes will be explored in this paper
Thomas Locke wrote immensely about this subject. He set out to describe who “self” is and relate that in a manner which is easily understood. He first expounds on the law of space (no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time) to demonstrate that,” For we never finding, nor conceiving it possible, that two things of the same kind should exist in the same place …show more content…
And were all my perceptions removed by death, and coued (sic) I neither think, nor feel, not see, nor love, nor hate after the dissolution of my body, I should be entirely annihilated, not do I conceive what is farther requisite to make me a perfect non-entity, (Hume). Therefore, according to Hume, the absence of perception is the absence of being.
Now, while both persons have thought provoking ideas, there is a divide between the two that must be addressed. First of all, is the identity of self must be discussed. Both Locke and Hume agree that there must be different definitions of identity for different things; you can’t define a pile of rocks and a living tree using the same method of identity.
However, there is a contrast in the methods used to identify self. Locke said that both “The body, as well as the soul, goes to the making of a man,” (Locke 15). What then ties these together into self is basically continued consciousness. So, as long as I am conscious of me, then I am myself. This is demonstrated in the legal system where a defense is made with “not guilty by reason of insanity”, in which a person suffering from a mental illness is found to be not guilty due to altered mental consciousness. Locke states that an altered mental status is loss of consciousness, …show more content…
He feels as if there was no “constant”, but instead, a casual contact among perceptions. Locke, however, feels that consciousness is what ties together the mind and body
In conclusion, both John Locke and David Hume had interesting ideas on self-identity. While still having credible observations, I feel that Hume, in not accepting anything more than a bundle of impressions, left out much of the human experience, such that when the human is studied solely on a scientific level, without thought to his emotional being, much is left out and misunderstood.
However much I disagree with Hume, I do agree with his last statement, “…questions concerning identity can never possibly be decided, and are to be regarded rather as grammatical, than as philosophical difficulties. Identity depends on the relation of ideas; and these relations produce identity, by means of that easy transition they occasion,” (Hume 1) I feel that the whole of human experience, and not just a part, must be taken into account when considering this important
Who or what is the essence of “you”? What is the difference of your mind versus your body; are they the same or entirely different entities? The answers can have significant meanings for the legal and ethical system, not to mention personal beliefs. The views of Thomas Locke and David Humes will be explored in this paper
Thomas Locke wrote immensely about this subject. He set out to describe who “self” is and relate that in a manner which is easily understood. He first expounds on the law of space (no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time) to demonstrate that,” For we never finding, nor conceiving it possible, that two things of the same kind should exist in the same place …show more content…
And were all my perceptions removed by death, and coued (sic) I neither think, nor feel, not see, nor love, nor hate after the dissolution of my body, I should be entirely annihilated, not do I conceive what is farther requisite to make me a perfect non-entity, (Hume). Therefore, according to Hume, the absence of perception is the absence of being.
Now, while both persons have thought provoking ideas, there is a divide between the two that must be addressed. First of all, is the identity of self must be discussed. Both Locke and Hume agree that there must be different definitions of identity for different things; you can’t define a pile of rocks and a living tree using the same method of identity.
However, there is a contrast in the methods used to identify self. Locke said that both “The body, as well as the soul, goes to the making of a man,” (Locke 15). What then ties these together into self is basically continued consciousness. So, as long as I am conscious of me, then I am myself. This is demonstrated in the legal system where a defense is made with “not guilty by reason of insanity”, in which a person suffering from a mental illness is found to be not guilty due to altered mental consciousness. Locke states that an altered mental status is loss of consciousness, …show more content…
He feels as if there was no “constant”, but instead, a casual contact among perceptions. Locke, however, feels that consciousness is what ties together the mind and body
In conclusion, both John Locke and David Hume had interesting ideas on self-identity. While still having credible observations, I feel that Hume, in not accepting anything more than a bundle of impressions, left out much of the human experience, such that when the human is studied solely on a scientific level, without thought to his emotional being, much is left out and misunderstood.
However much I disagree with Hume, I do agree with his last statement, “…questions concerning identity can never possibly be decided, and are to be regarded rather as grammatical, than as philosophical difficulties. Identity depends on the relation of ideas; and these relations produce identity, by means of that easy transition they occasion,” (Hume 1) I feel that the whole of human experience, and not just a part, must be taken into account when considering this important