Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts John Locke and David Hume's conceptions of personal identity. It discusses each of their theories and discusses the contemporary philosopher's views on the theories and how they may support or reject them. The paper also establishes some of the common points between Locke and Hume's approaches.

From the Paper:

"A common point between the two philosophers is their diachronic view of personal identity. With Locke, the same soul or thinking substance is neither necessary not sufficient for personal identity over time and for Hume also, time is important in what concerns identity. However, there is also differentiation point: for Locke consciousness remains the same in the transition between thinking substances, and for Hume identity is shaped by perceptions, in the course of time. Only the large temporal frame is common, the approaches to identity in time differ."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Mendus, Susan, "Personal Identity: The Two Analogies in Hume", Philosophical Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 118 (Jan., 1980), pp. 61-68
• Intisar-Ul-Haque. "The Person and Personal Identity." Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Volume 31, Issue 1 (Sep. 1970), pp. 60-72.
• Preston, Aron, David Hume's Treatment of Mind, http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Mind/MindPres.htm

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