In other words, it is the notion that this being is able to “consider itself as itself” through different times that make up its personal identity (p. 14). As such, it is consciousness of past actions that identity is composed of. That said, it is this notion of continued consciousness that takes into account the difficulty proffered by the fact that our consciousness is at times interrupted by things such as “sound sleep” (p.15). Locke maintains that although our consciousness does not exist as a continuous stream, we nevertheless maintain our identity (p. 15). The reason personal identity does exist in spite of these interruptions, is due to Locke’s theory that personal identity exists so long as “the intelligent being can repeat the idea of any past action with the same consciousness it had at first” (p. 15, italics in original), and it is this consciousness that “unites existences and actions very remote in time into the same person,” creating personal identity (p.
In other words, it is the notion that this being is able to “consider itself as itself” through different times that make up its personal identity (p. 14). As such, it is consciousness of past actions that identity is composed of. That said, it is this notion of continued consciousness that takes into account the difficulty proffered by the fact that our consciousness is at times interrupted by things such as “sound sleep” (p.15). Locke maintains that although our consciousness does not exist as a continuous stream, we nevertheless maintain our identity (p. 15). The reason personal identity does exist in spite of these interruptions, is due to Locke’s theory that personal identity exists so long as “the intelligent being can repeat the idea of any past action with the same consciousness it had at first” (p. 15, italics in original), and it is this consciousness that “unites existences and actions very remote in time into the same person,” creating personal identity (p.