The Idea of Personal Identity and its Criticism of “I” Both philosophers Rene Descartes and John Locke in their writings “Meditations on First Philosophy” and An “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” go into great depth about what they believe sense of self is or what it means to be a person. Locke calls this personal identity and Descartes calls it the equation of the “I” that thinks with a thinking substance. Locke’s idea of personal identity is actually viewed by many as a critique of Descartes theory but before we can discuss that any further we must understand what both of these theories entail and then we can deliberate on why John Locke’s idea is superior. Descartes idea of personal identity is based on dualism and the notion that
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Now John Locke’s theory of personal identity or what makes us the same person over time, is vastly different from Descartes theory of a thinking substance. First and foremost we must first understand the parameters that Locke explains for one to be considered a person which he writes “is a thinking intelligent being that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing in different times and places, which it does only by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking, and, as it seems to me, essential to it—it being impossible for anyone to perceive without perceiving that he does perceive.” (Ariew & Watkins, 2009, p.370) Locke writes that a person identity or his ability to remain the same person does not need to consist of remaining the same substance, either physical or mental as Descartes’ theory had described. Personal identity according to Locke only has to do with a person’s consciousness. He says that it is by a person’s consciousness or
Now John Locke’s theory of personal identity or what makes us the same person over time, is vastly different from Descartes theory of a thinking substance. First and foremost we must first understand the parameters that Locke explains for one to be considered a person which he writes “is a thinking intelligent being that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing in different times and places, which it does only by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking, and, as it seems to me, essential to it—it being impossible for anyone to perceive without perceiving that he does perceive.” (Ariew & Watkins, 2009, p.370) Locke writes that a person identity or his ability to remain the same person does not need to consist of remaining the same substance, either physical or mental as Descartes’ theory had described. Personal identity according to Locke only has to do with a person’s consciousness. He says that it is by a person’s consciousness or