Locke and Parfit's Theories

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John Locke and Derek Parfit’s Theories John Locke was an enlightenment thinker who believed that everything people know is based off of their experiences. Every day people encounter different experiences through their conscious behaviors. Locke’s theory of memory criterion states that consciousness over time constitutes identity. Locke believes the self is a “thinking intelligent being that has a reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places.” A person’s identity extends only as far as ones consciousness goes which is a necessary condition of personal identity. In more simple term this means that a person who remembers a behavior or experience from the past is the same person today because they consciously remember that period of time. If a person does not recall the past experience they are not the same person. The person is still the same self and same rational being which establishes the same identity. I like the idea that Locke presents about the “self” remaining the same if we consciously remember an experience. However I disagree that if a person has experiences that they do not remember it means they not the same person. I believe that my “self” has not changed however the experiences and actions I encounter as I age alter and adjust my inner self. Derek Parfit was a British philosopher who theorizes on the psychological continuity and connectedness. He has two targets that he focuses on. He has the belief about the nature of personal identity and also and the belief about the importance of personal identity. He believes that there is an uninterrupted connection concerning a particular person’s private life and personality. Continuity ensures that the qualities of the mind such as self-awareness and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and one’s environment are
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