Comparison Of John Locke And Descartes Views On Self And Personal Identity

This paper will deliberate John Locke’s and René Descartes views on “self” and personal identity. Each of these philosophers describes their views on consciousness, self, and personal identity. Similarities and differences will be discussed and examples provided to address the study of mind and body, physical and non-physical. Following the description of personal identity written in this paper on the views offered by Locke and Descartes I will conclude with a personal view on which of these two philosopher’s theories I prefer.
Descartes examined our very existence and our perceptions of truth. He debated the point that our senses could not be believed and knowledge could be gained through reasoning alone. He removed all thoughts of what he took to be true, and set out to prove sense perception was not to be trusted. Descartes Dream Theory argued that feeling heat from a fire could be conveyed through the senses whether you are awake or asleep. Therefore, you could be deceived into thinking you were awake when in actuality, you were having a dream.
Descartes came to the conclusion that if he could think something, he must exist. Descartes’ most famous statement is Cogito ergo sum, “I think, therefore I exist.” (SparkNotes Editors). Descartes goes on to talk

Descartes states: “By the word ‘God’ I understand a substance that is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, which created myself and anything else that may exist. “The more carefully I concentrate on these attributes, the less possible it seems that any of them could have originated from me alone. So this whole discussion implies that God necessarily exists.” (Descartes, 14) Locke states: “First, God is without beginning, eternal, unalterable, and everywhere, and therefore concerning his identity there can be no doubt.” (Locke,