John Locke on Personal Identity - 950 Words

I will argue that Locke believed that if you remain the same person, there are various entities contained in my body and soul composite that do not remain the same over time, or that we can conceive them changing. These entities are matter, organism (human), person (rational consciousness and memory), and the soul (immaterial thinking substance). This is a intuitive interpretation that creates many questions and problems. I will evaluate Lockes view by explaining what is and what forms personal identity, and then explaining how these changes do conceivably occur while a human remains the same person. Locke believed that the identity of a person could be assigned to the consciousness. He thought that a person would remain the same as†¦show more content†¦This means a body can have a soul at youth for a certain amount of years, then have another one in adolescence, and another during adulthood. Similarly, the same can have different bodies. So the same soul can be in a body in the year 1200, then in year 1850, and so on. A question that I have towards Lockes view is that if you have some kind of accident and lose all memory of your past permanently, are you really a new person? Locke states that you are a different person because your consciousness was no longer active after the accident, it was not continuous. Further on from that, so if a person is living their life with many memories, and then they are placed into a coma. When they wake up from that coma, and they do not remember anything at all, they now have a different identity according to Locke. Two things cannot have the same beginning according to Locke: â€Å"When we see a thing any thing, of whatever sort to be in a certain place at a certain time, we are sure that it is that very thing and not another thing existing at that time in some other place. We never find and can’t even conceive of two things of the same kind existing in the same place at the same time† (Essay II.xxvii. 1). So if that person then begins to start remembering things, is that person still the same person that they were before the coma? Or does that person now have an even newer identity due to them not being the person who did not remember anything previously. In other words, as thatShow MoreRelatedJohn Locke And Personal Identity1224 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke states that personal identity is a matter of physiological continuity that is based on the consciousness of a person rather than the individual’s body. Personal identity is constituted by memory connections; specifically the depiction of autobiographical memory connections that result in constituting personal identity. John Locke states that a person’s personality and psychology can be transferred to another body and that individual can still stay the same person because the consciousnessRead MoreJohn Locke on Personal Identity906 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween them. What is it for A and B to be the same pers on. That is the issue of person identity. For example what is it for me to be the same person now and when I was a baby. Is that justified to be the same person? Why? How? Locke more or less invented this topic. He came up with a idea that was really impressively sophisticated, given that he started from scratch. He took the view that appropriate criteria of identity, that is what it is that constitute sameness over time, depends on the kind of thingRead MorePersonal Identity, By John Locke1169 Words   |  5 Pagesquestions surrounding personal identity: whether it consists in consciousness, whether we are just a soul or a mind and are we only who we can remember being? Locke claims that our personal identity is found in our identity of consciousness, yet can this be true if a person can change bodies, or one mind can be inhabited by various persons? In this essay, I will first be looking at Locke’s account of personal identity and how he comes to the conclusion that person al identity consists over time. FromRead MoreReflection Of Identity In Locke And John Lockes Personal Identity954 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Locke in â€Å"Personal Identity† argues that, identity is a function of the mind and not the body. In simple terms, Locke considers personal identity as a matter of psychological continuity, founded on consciousness and not on the substance of either the soul or the body. Locke, is an empiricism which means that his theories must be built on experiences. This is why he states that consciousness is the experience we create, which then creates the personal identity of a person. Locke says that theRead MoreLocke And John Lockes Theory On Personal Identity860 Words   |  4 Pages Personal Identity or ‘Self’ has been a very important topic for philosophers for many years. Personal identity is how you describe or think of being which is derived from memories that have taken place over the years. John Locke was a philosopher who believed that your ‘Self’ or personal identity come from memory which is also referred to as consciousness in Locke’s writings. Locke believed that you are who you are, because your thoughts are yours alone no matter the vessel. However, in this paperRead MoreAnalysis Of John Locke And The Problem Of Personal Identity1622 Words   |  7 PagesProblems in Philosophy John Locke and the Problem of Personal Identity Personal identity, in a philosophical point of view, is the problem of explaining what makes a person numerically the same over a period of time, despite the change in qualities. The major questions answered by Locke were questions concerning the nature of identity, persons, and immorality (Jacobsen, 2016). This essay will discuss the three themes John Locke presents in his argument regarding personal identity, which are, the conceptRead MoreJohn Locke s Argument For Personal Identity Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagespurpose of this essay is to define what Personal Identity is by analyzing John Locke’s argument for Personal Identity. John Locke’s argument for Personal Identity will be examined, in order to establish a better understanding of whether or not the argument for personal identity could be embraced. In order to do so, the essay will i) State and explain Locke’s argument that we are not substances or mere souls and ii) State and explain Locke’s con cept of personal identity and its relations to what he callsRead MoreJohn Locke s Theory Of Self And Personal Identity Essay1449 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Locke a seventeenth century Philosopher uses a number of thought experiments in his 1690 account, ’An Essay concerning Human Understanding’. He uses these thought experiments to help explain his definition of the self and personal identity. The thought experiments that are used, go some way in explaining his opinions and in clarifying the role that memory plays in defining the term. Although defining personal identity was and still is a complex subject and not all philosophers share the sameRead MoreJohn Locke s Theory Of Personal Identity And Diversity1046 Words   |  5 Pagesthis has happened and therefore cannot be blamed for such a crime. Locke is known to believe in his theory of personal identity and diversity. Locke’s theory talks about consciousness and how our consciousness makes our identity throu gh our experiences. Locke states that we are only considered guilty of committing a crime if we were aware of it and remember doing it. Although I agree with Locke in some terms regarding our identity having something to do with our consciousness, I do not fully agreeRead MoreDescartes And John Locke s Views On Consciousness, Self, And Personal Identity1475 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes and John Locke endeavored to question the views on consciousness, self, and personal identity. They examined belief in God, the certainty of knowledge, and the role of mind and body. The goal of this paper is to deliberate John Locke’s and Renà © Descartes views on â€Å"self† and personal identity and how each come to examine how knowledge is captured. Renà © Descartes and John Locke both present arguments that are rational in the discussion of consciousness, self, and personal identity, but each lack

Domestic Violence From Law Enforcement Officers - 2429 Words

Domestic Violence is one of the most common crimes that occur, however not all of them being reported. There are many effects and causes to this behavior in law enforcement officers that have been studied by many researchers and doctors, authors, and the media. The victims of domestic violence from law enforcement officers (mostly being women) are affected by this greatly on a higher level than regular women who aren’t married to police officers, as they have much more to lose if such acts were ever reported on their spouses. There are many theoretical causes of domestic violence from law enforcement officers, which effect their victims greatly, making it almost impossible for them to report any offense without some type of consequence of†¦show more content†¦Domestic violence should not be taken lightly and inexcusable especially by those of law enforcement who’s job is to protect people from harm. It’s not only unethical but it sets a bad example, and should not be tolerated, especially on more than one offense, those officers should have their badges taken away, or be taken out of active duty at the least. These officers have a great advantage in getting away with these acts of violence because they know their wives will not report it due to a great number of risks. definition Domestic violence is aggressive behavior within the home, generally involving the abuse of a spouse or partner in order to gain control or maintain power over another. This type of violence can be sexual, physical, emotional, or even psychological in which these threats influence the other person. It is not only about physical abuse, it’s the consistent pattern of behaviors that are used to make the victim feel threatened and manipulated. -effects on victims The effects of victims of domestic violence from police officers is in a way unique and very dangerous. It is in fact more dangerous than any other domestic violent relationship because unlike a regular person, the law enforcement officer is familiar with and experienced with weapons and defense. They are able to access

The US National Debt Free Essays

â€Å"Spending financed not by current tax receipts, but by borrowing or drawing upon past tax reserves. † Is it a good idea? Why does the U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on The US National Debt or any similar topic only for you Order Now run a deficit? Since 1980 the deficit has grown enormously. Some say it is a bad thing, and predict impending doom, others say it is a safe and stable necessity to maintain a healthy economy. For nearly 150 years the U. S. government managed to keep a balanced budget. The only time a budget deficit existed during these years was in times of war or other catastrophic events. For instance, the government created deficits during the War of 1812, the recession of 1837, the Civil War, the depression of the 1890s, and World War I. However, once each incident ended the deficit would be eliminated. The economy was much stronger than the accumulated debt and would therefore quickly absorb it. The last time the budget ran a surplus was in 1969 during Nixon’s presidency. Budget deficits have grown larger and more frequent in the last half-century. In the 1980s they soared to record levels. The government cut income tax rates, greatly increased defense spending, and didn’t cut domestic spending enough to make up the difference. The deep recession of the early 1980s reduced revenues, raising the deficit and forcing the Government to spend much more on paying interest for the national debt at a time when interest rates were high. As a result, the national debt grew exponentially in size after 1980. It grew from $709 billion to $3. 3 trillion in 1990, only one decade later. (See Table 1) Federal spending has grown over the years. If you compare actual dollars and their proportion to the economy (Gross Domestic Product, or GDP), much of it began in the 1930s. Beginning with the â€Å"New Deal†, the Federal Government came to play a much larger role in American life. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to use the full powers of his office to end the Great Depression. He and Congress greatly expanded Federal programs. Federal spending, which totaled less than $4 billion in 1931, went up to nearly $7 billion in 1934 and then over $8 billion in 1936. U. S. entry into World War II sent annual Federal spending soaring to over $91 billion by 1944. Thus began the ever-increasing debt of the United States. Is our debt increasing as fast as we think it is? The dollar amount of the debt may increase but often times so does the amount of money or GDP to pay for the debt. Some believe a deficit allows more people to work, increasing productivity. A deficit does this because it is invested into the economy by government. For example, if the government spends deficit money on new highways, trucking will benefit and more jobs will be produced. When an economic system is in recession all of its resources are not being used. For instance, if the government did not build highways we could not ship goods and thereby decrease demand for them. Because we cannot ship the items, the supply remains low even though we have the ability to produce more. This non-productivity comes at a cost to the whole economic system. If deficit spending eliminates non-productivity then its direct monetary cost will be offset, if not surpassed, by increased productivity. In the 1980’s when the huge deficits were adding up, the actual additions to the public capital or increased productivity were often as big or bigger than the deficit. This means that as long as the government spends the money it gains from a deficit on assets that increase its wealth and productivity, the debt actually benefits the economy. But what if the government spends money on programs that do not increase its assets or productivity? Consider small businesses for instance. A company invests money to hire a new salesman. He will probably increase sales and the company will regain what it spent hiring him. If the company spends money on paper clips when they already have staplers they will just lose money. This frivolous spending is what makes a deficit dangerous. The government’s net worth decreases which risks putting it into serious debt. Debt should not be a problem because we can just borrow more, right? This statement would be correct if our ability to borrow was unlimited, but it is not. At first the government borrowed internally from private sectors. The government did this by selling bonds to the private sectors, essentially reallocating its own countries funds to spend on its country. This works fine in a recession, but when the country is at or near its full capability for production it cannot increase supply through investment of deficit dollars. Deficit dollars then translate into demand for goods that aren’t being produced. Referring back to the small business example, if a company is selling all the products it can produce they can still hire another salesman. However, since there are no more goods to be sold, the salesman only increases the number of consumers demanding the product. The problems of deficit spending out of a recession even out through two negative possibilities, inflation and crowding out. Inflation means there is more demand or money than there are goods this causes an increase in prices and drives down the worth of the dollar. This depreciation of the dollar counters the cost of the deficit but destroys the purchasing power of the dollar. A five-dollar debt is still a five-dollar debt even if the five dollars are only worth what used to be a five-cent piece of bubble gum. Despite its danger, inflation is used to some extent to curb the debt. Crowding out is when the government is looking for the same capital that the business sector wants to invest. This causes fierce competition for funds to invest. The fierce competition causes an increase in interest rates and often business will decide against further investment and growth. The government may have the money to build new highways but the truckers cannot afford trucks to use on them. The governments needs will â€Å"crowd out† business needs. This turns potential assets into waste. However, there is a third option that would allow the government to run a deficit and avoid the negative aspects of inflation and crowding out. Borrowing from foreign sources is a tangible and recently very common practice. Attracted by high interest rates and stability, foreigners now buy huge amounts of U. S. national debt. Of course this cannot be the perfect solution otherwise no one would be concerned about the debt. The problem with borrowing from external sources is the lack of control the government has over foreign currency and debts. Internal debts can be paid with increased taxes, inflation, and other monetary controls the government has. External debts can extremely damaging to a country if it cannot buy enough of the foreign currency to pay the interest. Running a deficit is apparently good for an economy that is operating inside its production possibilities curve but it can be damaging to an economy otherwise. A deficit managed properly has the effect of increasing demands. An economy inside its curve can increase supplies in reaction. An economy on the curve can increase demand but its supplies cannot increase causing prices to rise, or inflation. If there is no deficit and the curve shifts to the right then supplies will not increase and the country will no longer be operating on the curve. A deficit must be maintained to insure that the economy grows with its resources. Is the US’s current debt bad or good? The trick is finding out how large the deficit should be in order to allow for growth without waste. The US’s deficit is bad at this point because the U. S. is close to its maximum production capabilities, and deficit money is being wasted. For example two of the largest portions of the budget: defense and social security. Defense spending produces little or nothing except in times of war. The way social security is managed creates a huge waste. As managed, social security is money spent to immobilize a large and fairly capable part of the work force. It encourages elderly people not to work by spending deficit money on them. Reducing productivity and increasing the debt at the same time. In its current state, the U. S. should attempt to reduce its deficit. However, eliminating it is not necessary and could do more damage than good. How to cite The US National Debt, Essay examples

Metropolitan Museum of Art Essay Example For Students

Metropolitan Museum of Art Essay Art is a prized thing that has been accumulated and preserved all throughout history. It has helped many people learn more about the backstory of history through visuals. Even helping many to understand what exactly brought the world to be what it is today. I have always been intrigued by art. Along with that interest, museums have helped fuel it. This is why I chose to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My interests in art and the past are connected and can all be seen in this museum which is why I believed it was the best place to visit. The artifact that I have chosen is named â€Å"Fragmentary colossal head of a youth†. It is apart of Greek culture and was made during the Hellenistic period around 2nd century B. C. . When walking into this part of the museum, I was immediately drawn to the marble sculpture. Especially how life size it was compared to the rest of the sculptures kept behind glass. The way the head was cut in half gave the artifact a strange appeal. It was almost as if a person couldn’t look away. What I liked most was how the top of the head was missing. Although it wasn’t lost purposely it still made me feel drawn to the artifact. I also loved the medium of the sculpture, which is marble. The significance behind the my choice is far from outside the box, yet I still believe it is valid. This artifact was placed in the middle of the room which really brought my attention. After giving it a better look I realized that it was a fragment of what used to be a life-size statue. It faintly reminded me of another piece I have saw long ago. The smooth edges around the mouth and the details in the hair were phenomenal, and the fact that it is cut in half made it much more intriguing. I simply enjoyed the visuals of the statue even though the meaning of it all was rather unclear. A lot of other people stopped to enjoy the statue, as it was the biggest most prominent artifact in the room. Some people mentioned the obvious, pointing out the half head but mostly they were quiet. My overall experience at this museum was amazing. The reason I felt this way is because the atmosphere of the museum along with the pieces in it were way beyond my expectations. I was assuming that the museum wouldn’t have as much exhibits to cover but it was huge and full with art of the past. I was able to see all these pieces with my own eyes and it was an enjoyable experience from start to finish.