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John Locke says that his version of a personal identity criterion is necessary for just reward and punishment. Is a criterion really necessary? If so, is Locke's the criterion we should use?
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One reason that personal identity seems a topic worthy of study is that it is a fundamental concept to reward and punishment. John Locke says that his version of a personal identity criterion is necessary for just reward and punishment. Is a criterion really necessary? If so, is Locke's the criterion we should use? John Locke claims that personal identity consists in a continuity of consciousness, or a succession of memories. Locke's view is that sameness of consciousness is necessary for sameness of personal identity. If A at time t1 and B at time t 2 have shared consciousness, they have the same personal identity. On the bottom of page 39, he explains that, "as far as this consciousness can be extended backwards to any past action or thought, so far reaches the identity of the person." As far back as one's memories extend, that's how far back one's identity goes....
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