The Problems Of Personal Identity: The Problem Of Personal Identity

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People undergo various changes throughout life; the differences might be physical, mental, emotional, or psychological. Regardless of the changes experienced, individuals still feel they are the same. It defeats logic how it is possible for a person to change however continuing to be the same. Despite the numerous changes that have happened to me in the past fifteen years, I still feel I am the same person. The problem of personal identity tries to explain how it is possible to stay unchanged even with the numerous changes. The identity problem may seem to be a pointless philosophical question which many may disregard saying they have not changed. With such individuals do not feel there is a problem with their identity. Regardless of how people …show more content…

With such, the identity of an individual keeps on being built and rebuilt throughout time. Also, if changes that are brought about by the loose of parts of the body are experienced, what a person says concerning his/her identity does not change. The loss suffered does not make an individual different compared to what he/she was before encountering the loss. Continuity or identity is not disrupted by the loss, in cases where the parts lost get replaced; the goal of the “new” parts is sustaining the functioning of the original structure. In other cases, a criterion that uses our bodies can be used in answering personal identity questions, for example, the bodily identity that allows individuals determine if a body at one time is identical …show more content…

He refers identity as a mental substance which is added to the bodily substance to create an ‘entire self.’ The view Descartes brings forth supports changes provided non-physical substance do not get altered. His attempts to find a solution to the identity issue is perceived to be a rationalist’s tactic given that he believes that it is through rational thinking that information concerning the outside world can get gained (*****). According to Locke, his philosophy is founded on observation and knowledge which are based on awareness and self- awareness. He presents memory as the primary criterion to support persistence of individuals throughout

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