Final answer:
Yes, as a cognitivist about personhood, you would believe that higher order cognitive functions are foundational in constituting personal identity over time, aligning with Locke's understanding of psychological continuity. Rationality's development is also significant in discussions of personhood, as elucidated by philosophers such as Aristotle and Kant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Being a cognitivist about personhood suggests that you believe higher order cognitive functions indeed underwrite personal identity over time. John Locke's psychological continuity approach supports this view, positing that it is consciousness, via memory and reflection, that defines personal identity, rather than biological factors. Other perspectives include Aristotle's and Kant's emphasis on rationality, which play an essential role in defining personhood and the special value afforded to human beings.
Locke's thought experiment of a prince and a cobbler swapping memories illustrates that it's the psychological, rather than the physical, that constitutes true identity. Likewise, a cognitivist perspective indicates acknowledging the role of cognition in establishing our ongoing sense of self. However, this view raises questions when considering individuals, such as children or those with cognitive impairments, and how society values those who may not fully display these higher cognitive functions at present.
The concept of personhood is pivotal in moral and ethical debates, such as those surrounding abortion, where the focus is on when exactly one becomes a 'person' with full moral rights. This is intricately linked with the development of reason and the potentiality of an individual to achieve rationality, as argued by philosophers like Aristotle. The debate can further extend into psychological theories, such as Piaget's stages of cognitive development and the possibilities of postformal thought in adults, providing a nuanced approach to understanding personhood.