Single Idea 1202

[catalogued under 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 1. Existence of Persons]

Full Idea

A person is a thinking, intelligent being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places; which it does by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking.

Gist of Idea

A person is intelligent, rational, self-aware, continuous, conscious

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.27.09)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.335


A Reaction

Locke's famous definition of a person. Several of the terms seem redundant, and it seems to come down to 'conscious, rational, and self-aware'. But 'self-aware' also seems redundant, because you must already be a person to be aware of it…

Related Ideas

Idea 20618 Persons must be conscious, reasoning, motivated, communicative, self-aware [Warren, by Tuckness/Wolf]

Idea 4669 Persons are conscious, they relate, they think, they feel, and they are self-aware [Glover]