Final answer:
Locke distinguishes between the persistence of a human being and a person because personal identity for him is rooted in psychological continuity through memory, reason, and self-reflection, not in the biological continuity of the human body.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Locke makes a distinction between the persistence of a human being and the persistence of a person because he views personal identity as based on psychological continuity rather than biological continuity. In his Essay on Human Understanding, Locke argues that a person's identity is maintained through consciousness, which includes memory, reason, and self-reflection. He illustrates his point through a thought experiment where a prince and a cobbler swap memories — suggesting that it is the continuity of consciousness, not the physical body, that defines a person's identity.
As for the persistence of a human body, Locke's approach implies that it is a separate question. The identity of a human body is typically tied to the biological continuity of its living cells and organismic structure. Despite this, Locke's focus remains primarily on the notion of personal identity, which is rooted in our mental experiences and memory continuity.