In Chapter XXVII of the essay Identity and Diversity, author John Locke discusses numerous types of identities and provides multiple examples of these identities. However, to understand identity and its many components we must first grasp the concept of identity itself as understood by Locke. Locke states that when we compare something that exists at any time or place, we compare it with the context in which it exists at another time or place and when we see something at a given time, we are sure that it is that thing that exists and does not exist at a another place at the same time. This is the idea of ​​identity, it follows that a thing cannot have more than one beginning and two things of the same type cannot exist in the same place or at the same time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayIn total, Locke proposes four types of identity that can be applied to the individual, to oneself, or even in Melanie's case. First, Locke discusses the structure and organization of particles and their ability to remain unchanged over time as an identity. “Let us suppose an atom, that is, a continuous body under an immutable surface, existing in a determinate time and place; it is evident that, considered at any moment of its existence, it is identical to itself at that moment." Here Locke states that atoms are continuous bodies that reside in designated space and exist through determinate times and places, so it follows that if two atoms came together to produce the same mass, each individual atom would remain the same under Locke's forging rule . However, if an atom were subtracted or added, it would no longer be the same body. Secondly, Locke discusses the idea of ​​identity in living creatures and that their identity is not based on the mass of the particles themselves. “An oak that grows from a plant to a large tree, and then cut down, is still the same oak; and a colt grown up to be a horse, sometimes fat, sometimes thin, is still the same horse: though in either case there may be a manifest change of parts; so that in reality neither of them are the same masses of matter, although they are in reality one the same oak and the other the same horse. As some organisms age, their mass increases and particles once attached to their body may fall off and no longer be associated as part of the animal, for example a deer's antlers falling off due to weight. Living creatures can change shape and size over time, but ultimately they remain the same creatures over time. This means that regardless of mass or change in shape or size, a being's identity remains the same. Third, Locke discusses the identity of complex bodies such as machines, then makes a comparison with how this can be observed in animals. “What is a watch? It is clear that it is nothing more than a proper organization or construction of parts for a certain purpose, which when sufficient force is added to it, it is capable of achieving. If we supposed this machine to be a continuous body, whose organized parts were repaired, augmented, or diminished by a constant addition or separation of insensible parts, with a common life, we would have something very similar to the body of an animal." Locke is saying that humans, like machines, are organized and built in such a way that when force is applied, we are able to achieve and function. For a watch, the movement is created artificially, however, humans possess a soul that allows them to perform such movements naturally. Fourth and finally, Locke discusses the identity of persons and consciousness.“It must be admitted that if the same consciousness (which, as has been demonstrated, is an entirely different thing from the same numerical figure or body movement) can be transferred from one thinking substance to another, it will be possible that two thinking substances can create a single person." This means that as long as individual A's consciousness remains intact and is transferred into individual B, then individual A will have successfully transferred their identity into the body of individual B. I believe the second and fourth identities are more relevant for Melanie's situation. In the second identity, Locke states that identity is not based on the mass of the particles themselves and in the fourth identity, Locke states that consciousness can be transferred from one body to another. These specific examples may attempt to explain what happened and which individual is responsible for the identity change regarding Melanie because as long as her consciousness remains the same and intact, she is the same person regardless of body. Locke presents several interesting examples of identity issues, I think there is a more relevant example in the case of Melanie waking up in the body of her friend Aisha. Locke describes the story of a man who is convinced that he has acquired the soul of Socrates, Locke says: Suppose this man has an immaterial spirit that can think for man, but man remains the same on the outside. Would this man be able to consider Socrates' actions as his own? According to Locke he is no more himself than Socrates is and for everyone man has remained the same. “But although the same immaterial substance or soul does not of itself form, wherever it is and in whatever state, the same man; yet it is pure consciousness.” Locke states that it is not just a soul or substance that makes the same man/woman into another body, it is the totality of consciousness. This is relevant in Melanie's case because, similarly to the man who acquires the soul of Socrates, Melanie wakes up in the body of another person, her friend Aisha and according to Locke, Melanie's consciousness should have remained intact and placed in Aisha's body for Melanie. to say that he is actually in another body. In both cases, it seems that the immaterial soul/spirit, as well as the consciousness, have been transferred into a new body and since the criterion is the same for Socrates' consciousness and for Melanie's consciousness, what Locke says about 'man can also be applied in exactly the same way as Melanie. According to Locke, when you look at the woman in the hotel room you see Aisha's physical body but the mind (consciousness) will be that of Melanie. Locke discusses an example very similar to Melanie's situation. Locke says that the soul of a prince, along with the memories of his past, enters the body of a shoemaker. Everyone the shoemaker sees, even the prince does and for everything the prince does, good or bad, the prince is responsible. «But who would say it was the same man? The body also contributes to creating man and, I imagine, in this case it would determine man for everyone; whereby the soul, with all its princely thoughts upon it, would not create another man: but would be the same shoemaker to all but itself. Unfortunately, this scenario is not in the shoemaker's best interest. For everyone else the shoemaker remains the shoemaker, however the shoemaker is the only one who knows that the prince is inside his body. Therefore, if the prince committed heinous crimes, the shoemaker would ultimately be held accountable regardless of his claim of innocence. Similarly, if Aisha's friend went to visit her, the friend would have the impression that she is in Aisha's presence because he would observe Aisha's physical body and have no reason to believe otherwise. Please note: this is just an example. Get a personalized document from us now.