Locke on personal identity: consciousness and concernment

Description

John Locke's theory of personal identity underlies all modern discussion of the nature of persons and selves--yet it is widely thought to be wrong. In his new book, Galen Strawson argues that in fact it is Locke's critics who are wrong, and that the famous objections to his theory are invalid. Indeed, far from refuting Locke, they illustrate his fundamental point. Strawson argues that the root error is to take Locke's use of the word "person" only in the ordinary way, as merely a term for a standard persisting thing, like "human being." In actuality, Locke uses "person" primarily as a forensic.  Read more... Abstract: John Locke's theory of personal identity underlies modern discussion of the nature of persons and selves - yet it is widely thought to be wrong. This book argues that in fact it is Locke's critics who are wrong, and that the famous objections to his theory are invalid.  Read more... Content: Cover Contents Preface Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 "Person" Chapter 3 "Person ... is a forensic term" Chapter 4 Concernment Chapter 5 Consciousness Chapter 6 "Consciousness ... is inseparable from thinking" Chapter 7 "From the inside" Chapter 8 "Person"-Locke's Definition Chapter 9 Consciousness Is Not Memory Chapter 10 Personal Identity Chapter 11 Psychological Connectedness Chapter 12 Transition (Butler Dismissed) Chapter 13 "But next ... ": Personal Identity without Substantial Continuity. Chapter 14 "And therefore ... ": [I]-transfers, [Ag]-transfers, [P]-transfersChapter 15 "A fatal error of theirs" Chapter 16 A Fatal Error of Locke's? Chapter 17 Circularity? Chapter 18 The Distinction between [P] and [S] Chapter 19 Concernment and Repentance Chapter 20 Conclusion Postface Appendix 1 "Of Identity and Diversity" Appendix 2 A Defence of Mr. Locke's Opinion Concerning Personal Identity References Index.