Philosophy Assignment: Locke, Memory, and 'Minority Report' Analysis

This assignment explores the philosophical concepts of personal identity and consciousness as presented by John Locke, and the science fiction themes in Philip K. Dick's 'Minority Report'. The assignment begins with a discussion of Locke's distinction between substance, man, and person, highlighting his association of consciousness and the self with the concept of a person. It then examines the role of memory in maintaining personal identity according to Locke, emphasizing the importance of memory in the formation of a sense of self. The assignment then transitions to an analysis of Philip K. Dick's short story, 'The Minority Report,' which explores the concept of free will and precognition. The 'precogs' ability to foresee future events and the resulting 'minority report' are discussed in relation to the question of predetermined fate versus individual agency. The assignment also provides a bibliography of sources used.

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Reading Reflections
Name of the Student:
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Author Note

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1. Explain how Locke distinguishes the terms (1) substance, (2) man, and (3) person.
Which one does he most closely associate with consciousness and ‘the Self’?
Answer: According to Locke, there is a distinct difference between a person and a man.
Man can be any living creature, most specifically a human being. With the lesson of the
Cobbler, Locke intends to highlight that person and man should be different and be
separate. Persons have to be different and distinct if they can switch bodies. Man and a
person can thus be complementary yet be separated. He justified the claim by
emphasizing on the fact that the person of prince can enter the body of a cobbler but it
cannot be the condition for becoming the cobbler, similarly for becoming the prince as
well.
On the other hand, Locke also says that identity of substance is not the same as
identity of a person. There are two forms of substance: material or immaterial spirits,
which can also be referred to as souls. In other words, substance is that complex idea
which is a collection of simpler ideas which can exist independently.
According to Locke, self is an intelligent, thinking being, which employs
refection and reason, which can be equated with person to a great degree and independent
of substance or soul.
2. What role does memory play in maintaining one’s personal identity, according to
Locke?
Answer: Memory plays a very important role in the formation of identity and creation of
senses of self. The experiences form a story as a child develops which creates a sense of
self which can be referred to as the Autobiographical memory. Thus, memory is very
influential to create identity and one cannot exist without the other. Locke suggest that

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personal identity thus extend as far as the consciousness goes. Memory, thus, is a
sufficient condition and necessity for personal identity.
3. What is the "minority report" in Philip K. Dick's short story? In the end, how many
of the "precogs" produced a minority report in the Anderton case?
Answer: The Minority Report deals with the existence of free will in Philip K. Dick;s
short story. On the other hand Precogs are the precognitives which can also be referred to
as the psychic ability possessed by an individual, with the help of which future events can
be understood, especially premeditated murders. There are three precogs at the end of the
short story.

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Bibliography
Boeker, Ruth. "The Role of Appropriation in Locke's Account of Persons and Personal Identity."
(2016).
Noonan, Harold W. Personal identity. Routledge, 2019.