
John Locke and Personal Identity
Immortality and Bodily Resurrection in 17th-Century Philosophy
K. Joanna S. Forstrom(Author)
Continuum Publishing Corporation
Published on 29. December 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
162 pages
978-1-4411-9558-6 (ISBN)
Description
One of the most influential debates in John Locke's work is the problem of personal identity over time. This problem is that of how a person at one time is the same person later in time, and so can be held responsible for past actions. The time of most concern for Locke is that of the general resurrection promised in the New Testament. Given the turbulence of the Reformation and the formation of new approaches to the Bible, many philosophers and scientists paid careful attention to emerging orthodoxies or heterodoxies about death. Here K. Joanna S. Forstrom examines the interrelated positions of Rene Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, Henry More and Robert Boyle in their individual contexts and in Locke's treatment of them. She argues that, in this way, we can better understand Locke and his position on personal identity and immortality. Once his unique take is understood and grounded in his own theological convictions (or lack thereof), we can better evaluate Locke and defend him against classic objections to his thought.
Reviews / Votes
... both students and scholars can draw profit from Forstrom's historical survey of various seventeenth-century views on immortality and resurrection, which is often well-crafted and insightful. -- British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 19 (4)More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
257 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-9558-6 (9781441195586)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

K. Joanna S. Forstrom
John Locke and Personal Identity
Immortality and Bodily Resurrection in 17th-Century Philosophy
E-Book
10/2011
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Continuum
€42.99
Available for download

K. Joanna S. Forstrom
John Locke and Personal Identity
Immortality and Bodily Resurrection in 17th-Century Philosophy
E-Book
03/2010
1st Edition
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€42.99
Available for download
Person
K. Joanna S. Forstrom is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Spring Hill College, Alabama, USA. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Washington University in St Louis, USA.
Content
Introduction; 1. John Locke and the Problem of Personal Identity: The Principium Individuationis, Personal Immortality, and Bodily Resurrection; 2. On Separation and Immortality: Descartes and the Nature of the Soul; 3. On Materialism and Immortality: Or Hobbes' Rejection of the Natural Argument for the Immortality of the Soul; 4. Henry More and John Locke on the Dangers of Materialism: Immateriality, Immortality, Immorality, and Identity; 5. Robert Boyle: On seeds, cannibalism, and the resurrection of the body; 6. Locke's Theory of Personal Identity in its Context: A Reassessment of Classic Objections; Bibliography.