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Full Idea
Though the successive consciousnesses which we have of our own existence are not the same, yet they are consciousnesses of one and the same thing or object; of the same person, self, or living agent.
Gist of Idea
Despite consciousness fluctuating, we are aware that it belongs to one person
Source
Joseph Butler (Analogy of Religion [1736], App.1)
Book Ref
'Personal Identity', ed/tr. Perry,John [University of California 1975], p.102
A Reaction
Butler's arguments seems to be that he appears to be the same person, so he is the same person. He is explicitly disagreeing with Locke.
21315 | A tree remains the same in the popular sense, but not in the strict philosophical sense [Butler] |
21317 | Despite consciousness fluctuating, we are aware that it belongs to one person [Butler] |
21314 | Consciousness presupposes personal identity, so it cannot constitute it [Butler] |
21313 | If consciousness of events makes our identity, then if we have forgotten them we didn't exist then [Butler] |
21318 | If the self changes, we have no responsibilities, and no interest in past or future [Butler] |
8066 | Butler exalts conscience, but it may be horribly misleading [Anscombe on Butler] |
3144 | Everything is what it is, and not another thing [Butler] |