Final answer:
The problem of personal identity addresses how a person remains the same over time despite changes. John Locke's psychological continuity theory emphasizes consciousness and memory as central to maintaining personal identity. Changes are permissible as long as psychological continuity is preserved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem of personal identity revolves around the question: What does it take for a person to persist through time as the same individual, despite changes that may occur? Philosophers have engaged with this problem through various approaches, one of which is the psychological continuity theory pioneered by John Locke.
According to Locke, personal identity is not tied to the biological body but instead to consciousness and the continuity of memories. A person can undergo many changes and still maintain their identity as long as there is continuity in their psychological states, such as memories and consciousness.
Locke's famous thought experiment involving a prince and a cobbler, whose memories are swapped, challenges our intuitive notion that physical continuity alone defines personal identity. Instead, he suggests that identity is preserved through our mental faculties and the ability to reflect upon ourselves at different times and places.
The resilience of personal identity thus allows for a person to persist through various kinds of changes, provided there is a coherence in their psychological experience.
The dilemma of persistence highlights the tension between our intuitions about identity and factors that can lead to its change or continuity. Different views on this subject borrow from both Western and Eastern theological perspectives, as well as secular considerations.
In grappling with the mind-body problem, philosophers continue to explore the complex interactions between our biological and psychological states to better grasp what constitutes self and identity.