Locke on personal identity
Subtitle: consciousness and concernment
By: Galen Strawson
Series: Princeton monographs in philosophy
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Princeton, N.J
Language: eng
Number of pages: 259
ISBN-13: 9780691147574
Subjects: Identity (Psychology)
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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.