Philosophy Of Personal Identity
Personal Identity has been a fascinating topic for philosophers all over the world. When you talk about personal Identity it makes you think to yourself “What is personal Identity?” Personal Identity can be a lot of things, to each person the meaning can be different. Personal Identity can be how you want the public to perceive you. Personal Identity can also mean upholding a certain standard/ attitude to maintain the status quo of who you are. This very question has left philosophers with many ideas on personal identity and the plus and minuses to it. Personal Identity is the concept you develop about yourself that expands over a course of your life. There are certain aspects of your life that involves personal identity that you have no control
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of, such as the certain choices you make in life, what you believe and how you spend your time, even all the way down to the color of your skin.
In class we have discussed personal identities and we talked about the famous philosopher John Locke and his different views on personal identity. Locke believes that consciousness can be transferred from one soul to another. He also believes that you can lose consciousness through the transfer of the bodies. Meaning if a person was to switch bodies you would be able to become the same person with the same mentality, you would have the same soul but be a different person. In the book “Identity and Diversity” he raises the question, “… if the same substance which think be changed, it can be the same person, or remaining the same, it can be different person.” (Locke, 1689/1997).
This has raised a question for me because of the statement of transferring souls and consciousness can make you the same person. An example that we were given in class was “If you blow up a ship use the same exact pieces from the blown up ship to build another one, would it be the same exact ship?”
If you were to take a 97’ Mustang with a basic engine and take the engine out of the car. Then you bring in another 99’ Mustang with a super charged engine and take that engine out and swap it with the basic Mustang. Would this make the basic Mustang with the super charged engine the same as the original Mustang with the super charged engine? No it wouldn’t make it the same car it would just be the same basic Mustang with the super charged up engine. The identity changed because of the engine you placed in the car, it didn’t change because it still remains as the same car.
In class we were asked the question what is identity? What is the problem with personal identity? There can be many different issues with personal identity. Some people feel as though they always have to worry about the judgment of other people, maintaining that certain swagger to keep your name held high, or living the right way in society with the unwritten code of ethics. When we think of personal identity the question of who am I? Am I the same person that I was 3 years ago?
It is safe to say that nobody physically will remain the same person that we were two years ago or even last month. Over time your body produces everything new, different cells and different hair strands. Over time your body changes, you’re personal along with your physical identity changes. It is generally to say that with all of the changes that I have been through, I was, I am and I will remain the same person of my born to my death.
This brings up the second example from class when we were asked “Since birth the doctors have been growing a clone body of you with the same cells as your old body, you get to the age where your body starts to give out on you. The doctor performs a surgery where he takes the clone body of your younger self and transfers your brain into the body. Will you remain the same person or would you be somebody totally different?”
If I was to switch bodies with the same brain I feel as though I would be the same person because I would think that same as I did in my old body.
I just would be more experience the way I handled things which would make me have a different experience the second time around. This is in support of Locke theory of transferring soul to soul theory if we transferred bodies why would become a different person if we are still thinking with the same mentality. Even though John Locke solely believes that the soul is what makes your identity I disagree. I do feel that your personal identity is made up of your soul and how you think, but I also feel it is your outer physical image as well. Your physical image is what people see first, before they even get your name. The way you look can give a person a good judgment of you or a bad one. Your personal identity can make the difference from you getting that dream job you always wanted and not getting …show more content…
it.
In the text “Personal Identity in College and the Work Context: Developmental Trajectories and Psychosocial Functioning” Klimstra, Schwartz and Duriez argue the theory of personal identity depends on your physical appearance and the way you think. They have performed the study of personal identity from college to the work place. They open up saying “The entrance into steady employment directs future decision making and, as such, could lead to the establishment of steady commitments in certain identity domains“(Buhl, 2007; Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, & Pollock, 2008). “Hence, emerging adults at work may be more inclined to make life decisions on identity-related topics which were not that salient when they were still in college”(Montgomery & Côté,2003; Yoder, 2000).
In the work force you are constantly worried about your personal identity and the physical identity because you have entered a world where you earn certain respect from the way you look in a professional setting. Nobody in the corporate world would take you serious if you are not dressed the part. You could not come to a business meeting and be taken serious in a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt. The way you dress in the work world will determine your long term commitment with that company. When you are in college you are not inclined to make those type of decisions because you aren’t in the work force. More times than not you don’t work a job that will determine in you coming there every day in a jacket and tie.
In today’s society your personal identity has a lot more to do with the physical appearance versus John Locke feeling that your identity is all inner feelings and inner thoughts.
If that was true your soul and who you are is shown on the outside before people are able to find out who is the real you. The way people perceive you in today’s society are the way you carry yourself and the way you act in society. Young adults actively construct their identity by exploring and committing to opportunities through the setting of personal goals. Typically personal goal contents are related to young adults' developmental tasks but sometimes goals are self-focused. (Marttinen, Dietrich, & Salmela-Aro;Institute of Educational Science).From a college students perspective my personal identity has to deal with the goals that I have set aside for myself, my attitude/outlook on life, and keeping my last name as clean as I can. In our society if you live by the unwritten code of ethics and abide by the rules of today’s society you are usually looked at as an alright guy and nobody would have a reason to feel or judge you aren’t a good
person. Being an African American male in our society today I have to uphold a certain standard when I am out in the public eye. Being an African American male I am already perceived of not being equal in some people eyes and it is my job to beat that stereotype. Every day that I go out and attack the day I go out with the mission of being better than yesterday so people know that I am not out here just being another statistical black man. I was never the one to believe in me always having a disadvantage in my personal identity but I was always told that you would get more respect from someone if you are a clean cut and a straight narrow guy. This also goes with the way I think of myself and how I personally hold myself to a certain standard. From my birth to my death I will always remain me even throughout all of the physical changes that has taken on my body over the years.
of, such as the certain choices you make in life, what you believe and how you spend your time, even all the way down to the color of your skin.
In class we have discussed personal identities and we talked about the famous philosopher John Locke and his different views on personal identity. Locke believes that consciousness can be transferred from one soul to another. He also believes that you can lose consciousness through the transfer of the bodies. Meaning if a person was to switch bodies you would be able to become the same person with the same mentality, you would have the same soul but be a different person. In the book “Identity and Diversity” he raises the question, “… if the same substance which think be changed, it can be the same person, or remaining the same, it can be different person.” (Locke, 1689/1997).
This has raised a question for me because of the statement of transferring souls and consciousness can make you the same person. An example that we were given in class was “If you blow up a ship use the same exact pieces from the blown up ship to build another one, would it be the same exact ship?”
If you were to take a 97’ Mustang with a basic engine and take the engine out of the car. Then you bring in another 99’ Mustang with a super charged engine and take that engine out and swap it with the basic Mustang. Would this make the basic Mustang with the super charged engine the same as the original Mustang with the super charged engine? No it wouldn’t make it the same car it would just be the same basic Mustang with the super charged up engine. The identity changed because of the engine you placed in the car, it didn’t change because it still remains as the same car.
In class we were asked the question what is identity? What is the problem with personal identity? There can be many different issues with personal identity. Some people feel as though they always have to worry about the judgment of other people, maintaining that certain swagger to keep your name held high, or living the right way in society with the unwritten code of ethics. When we think of personal identity the question of who am I? Am I the same person that I was 3 years ago?
It is safe to say that nobody physically will remain the same person that we were two years ago or even last month. Over time your body produces everything new, different cells and different hair strands. Over time your body changes, you’re personal along with your physical identity changes. It is generally to say that with all of the changes that I have been through, I was, I am and I will remain the same person of my born to my death.
This brings up the second example from class when we were asked “Since birth the doctors have been growing a clone body of you with the same cells as your old body, you get to the age where your body starts to give out on you. The doctor performs a surgery where he takes the clone body of your younger self and transfers your brain into the body. Will you remain the same person or would you be somebody totally different?”
If I was to switch bodies with the same brain I feel as though I would be the same person because I would think that same as I did in my old body.
I just would be more experience the way I handled things which would make me have a different experience the second time around. This is in support of Locke theory of transferring soul to soul theory if we transferred bodies why would become a different person if we are still thinking with the same mentality. Even though John Locke solely believes that the soul is what makes your identity I disagree. I do feel that your personal identity is made up of your soul and how you think, but I also feel it is your outer physical image as well. Your physical image is what people see first, before they even get your name. The way you look can give a person a good judgment of you or a bad one. Your personal identity can make the difference from you getting that dream job you always wanted and not getting …show more content…
it.
In the text “Personal Identity in College and the Work Context: Developmental Trajectories and Psychosocial Functioning” Klimstra, Schwartz and Duriez argue the theory of personal identity depends on your physical appearance and the way you think. They have performed the study of personal identity from college to the work place. They open up saying “The entrance into steady employment directs future decision making and, as such, could lead to the establishment of steady commitments in certain identity domains“(Buhl, 2007; Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, & Pollock, 2008). “Hence, emerging adults at work may be more inclined to make life decisions on identity-related topics which were not that salient when they were still in college”(Montgomery & Côté,2003; Yoder, 2000).
In the work force you are constantly worried about your personal identity and the physical identity because you have entered a world where you earn certain respect from the way you look in a professional setting. Nobody in the corporate world would take you serious if you are not dressed the part. You could not come to a business meeting and be taken serious in a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt. The way you dress in the work world will determine your long term commitment with that company. When you are in college you are not inclined to make those type of decisions because you aren’t in the work force. More times than not you don’t work a job that will determine in you coming there every day in a jacket and tie.
In today’s society your personal identity has a lot more to do with the physical appearance versus John Locke feeling that your identity is all inner feelings and inner thoughts.
If that was true your soul and who you are is shown on the outside before people are able to find out who is the real you. The way people perceive you in today’s society are the way you carry yourself and the way you act in society. Young adults actively construct their identity by exploring and committing to opportunities through the setting of personal goals. Typically personal goal contents are related to young adults' developmental tasks but sometimes goals are self-focused. (Marttinen, Dietrich, & Salmela-Aro;Institute of Educational Science).From a college students perspective my personal identity has to deal with the goals that I have set aside for myself, my attitude/outlook on life, and keeping my last name as clean as I can. In our society if you live by the unwritten code of ethics and abide by the rules of today’s society you are usually looked at as an alright guy and nobody would have a reason to feel or judge you aren’t a good
person. Being an African American male in our society today I have to uphold a certain standard when I am out in the public eye. Being an African American male I am already perceived of not being equal in some people eyes and it is my job to beat that stereotype. Every day that I go out and attack the day I go out with the mission of being better than yesterday so people know that I am not out here just being another statistical black man. I was never the one to believe in me always having a disadvantage in my personal identity but I was always told that you would get more respect from someone if you are a clean cut and a straight narrow guy. This also goes with the way I think of myself and how I personally hold myself to a certain standard. From my birth to my death I will always remain me even throughout all of the physical changes that has taken on my body over the years.