THE METAPHYSICS AND THE PARADOX OF IDENTITY IN LOCKE'S THEORY OF PERSONAL IDENTITY

Abstract

Several interpretations have been given to the meaning of the term 'identity'. The work examines the meaning of identity and the metaphysics of identity, especially as it relates to the paradox of the ship of Theasus. When we say two things are identical/same, what exactly do we mean? How are two things exactly the same? The aim in the work is to provide or make explicit the answers to these questions using Locke's theory of personal identity as our conceptual framework. The work employed the method of analysis and argued that the term identity is more problematic as it applies to humans and nonhumans in varying senses. It concluded that personal identity debate can be approached not only intrinsically but also extrinsically.