The Theory Of Self And Memory - 1598 Words

Personal identity has been, and will arguably remain, a major area of debate and discussion amongst philosophers, both in Western and Eastern branches of academia. Indeed, this idea that personal identity- more commonly referred to as â€Å"the self†- remains constant, despite any and all qualitative changes that can occur to a person, has left many philosophers ever so puzzled. Nevertheless, four main theories have been developed in an effort to best explain both the existence of the self and how it can persist through any period of time. Some follow on Rene Descartes theory, where the soul can be assigned the role of the self. Others prefer the one John Locke had proposed, where the self and memory are related. Others still argue that animalism, the view that the person body and the self are the same entity, is a better explanation. Then there are those who follow on the Buddhist teachings of the Anatta, a theory that argues against the very idea of the self. Amongst these f our main theories, the Buddhist theory of Anatta, the idea that the self does not exist, is arguably a better explanation of the self, for it is less problematic than the others can be. The initial problem in theorizing over the matter of the self is found in the idea of individual continuity, of persistence in more than just qualitative features over time. In the most intuitive of senses, the idea of the self can be simplified to terms of the persistence of personal identity over any period of time.Show MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Personal Identity988 Words   |  4 Pagesobvious but yet it again it is not as we must be able to define what and who our enduring self is. In this paper, I will argue that we should identify ourselves through our individual soul, thus supporting the same soul theory. By having the same soul, we are the same person. I will support this argument by giving a brief overview of all the theories of personal identity then stating the objection of the same soul theory using the same body and same mind theorist. Last but not least, I will then respondRead MoreAnalysis Of John Locke And The Problem Of Personal Identity1622 Words   |  7 Pagescap able of self-awareness. Locke emphasizes on self-awareness because he insists that it is one thing to be aware that you are looking at something, but it is different to be aware that you are aware that you are thinking about or looking at something. This is what Locke defines as consciousness – to be self-aware or to be aware of one s surroundings. It is through consciousness alone, Locke argues, we become more than just a man or an animal and instead become to the realization of the self. The selfRead MoreLearning Theories Explain The Connection Of Fear And Avoidance Of The Trauma1070 Words   |  5 PagesContemporary Directions in Theory, Practice, and Research (Ringel Brandell, 2012), the approaches I elected to focus on are CBT and PTSD, EMDR, SIT, and The Self-Trauma Model. CBT and PTSD: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach can go to two directions. The first direction is learning theory, and the second is emotional processing theory (p. 15). The learning theories relate to behavioral approach aiming to change behavior by controlling environmental signs. These learning theories explain the connectionRead MorePersonal Identity - Memory Theory vs Body Theory vs Soul Theory1634 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Memory Theory of Personal Identity is the closest to the truth. I will do so by showing that the opposing theories – Body and Soul Theories – have evident flaws and that the arguments against the Memory Theory can be responded to adequately. In order to succeed in this task, I will explain the basis of the three aforementioned theories are, examine the Memory Theory’s main arguments, acknowledge and respond to the arguments against it and demonstrate that the Memory Theory is the theory closestRead MoreLocke And John Lockes Theo ry 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 MorePersonal Statement : Personal Identity1267 Words   |  6 PagesIdentity Many ancient philosophers were fascinated with the idea of the personal identity. This is often referred to as the â€Å"self†. The â€Å"self† is considered to be something that is not physical, therefore the search to discover the â€Å"self† is not concrete. With the â€Å"self† being something that has no physical element, many philosophers have different opinions on what the â€Å"self† is and how it functions. â€Å"Someone s personal identity in this sense consists of those features she takes to â€Å"define her asRead MoreSelf-Identity Qualities1010 Words   |  4 Pagessomeone else. Thus, self- identity is how one characterizes themselves as an individual. This may at first seem easy to conclude. One might say I am me because I look in the mirror and recognize myself. Or, I am me because I possess a mind and memories unique to me that cannot be replicated by another in the same perspective. However, the body and the mind undergo constan t change throughout life, so how can they be attributed to one’s â€Å"sameness†? I have arrived at the problem of self-identity, what makesRead MoreThe Body, Soul, And Brain1426 Words   |  6 Pagessurvival of the self, it is difficult to say what defines a person throughout time. The three arguments are for the body, soul, and brain. These theories argue that each respective component of a person, must remain the same throughout time in order for a person to be unchanged. The brain theory is more plausible than its counterparts. To prove this, first, I will describe the soul and body theories, which I oppose, and then present an argument based on the brain transplant theory. A criticism forRead MoreHume s Identity Of A Man Is A Fiction888 Words   |  4 PagesHume believes that personal identity is not the feeling of existence of what is called the self as many philosophers believe. He proposes that every idea is the product of one impression. The self is not one impression, but is all of our impressions that combined Impressions could be pain, pleasure, grief, or joy, but they do not happen at the same time, they follow each other. Hume uses the theater analogy to explain this (Hume). The mind is the stage where perceptions make their appearance. TheyRead MorePersonal Identity And Social Identity1241 Words   |  5 Pagesperson to his/her theory view will be summarized and a counterexample will be provided to attempt to disprove the brain view, this will also be done for the the memory continuity theory. Then, the psychological continuity theory will be provided as the most probable The brain-as-person theory and the memory continuity theory seem to be plausible but do not accommodate the existence of personal identity as well as the psychological continuity theory. At one point in time, the theory that a human being