Essay Example on Anthony Quinton's Concept: Personality, Identity, and Memory

Introduction

Anthony Quinton's concept of personality and individual identity stems from character and memory. The two elements form unique logical coherence and, as Anthony Quinton attributes, affirms the primary criteria of personal identity. In this essay, I will attest that Quinton's argument follows reason, and it is in the approach taken that gives the argument fervent weight. Indeed lifetime memories make strong pointers to a particular person. From Quinton's viewpoint, in the case, a body exhibits memories of a specific subject, and in essence, the character traits of a particular individual, it is likely to conclude that the two could be one. At the same time, it is possible to argue that the two elements experienced significant modification in terms of character. The most vital concept in the scenario, as presented by Quinton, is, however, the memory swap. The transposition of these two characters makes it easy to understand and quantify Quinton's argument that the individuals were of the same body. Therefore, this paper seeks to prove the assertion that Quinton's argument remains rational, coherent, and supports the notion that an individuals' identity has a direct relationship with their memories and characters.

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Objections

Quinton based his argument on the fact that talking of someone independent of their bodies remains a possibility. For example, Quinton's viewpoint sounds similar to talking of someone independent of their physical being. For instance, it is possible to address people with lost consciousness as unfamiliar individuals. Consequently, addressing people disfigured through an accident makes them to stand out as individuals formerly known as they still have their character in place together with the memories. In his viewpoint, Quinton reiterates that while the bodies in others remain intrinsically unimportant, along with the memory complexes, they give meaning to personal identity. The soldier support raises the need to give sense to the two diverse concepts of the physical being and the memory needing the necessary lift to probable personal identity. While most people identify their existence in bodily form, it is the memory phenomenon that gives it the "soldier support" in creating the pseudo-realities.

Quinton's reiterates that there exists a broken link in the affirmative answer to B and C. As such there exist weak imaginative evidence linking B and C. At the same time, the concept of soldier support takes a strong affirmation in the probable attitude of B and C switching their identities. For example, it would raise the question of identity, especially for those close to B and C. The people closest to the two have the ultimate guide to identifying their unique selves, with a clear understanding of their memories and characters. Firstly, they understand the unique identity of the two. Secondly, they recognize the two differently by their names. Lastly, they can identify their bodies for convenience recognition while at the same time; it is possible to alienate any arising complexities between the two. Any situation that does not align the memories and the physical body can only make the whole concept scary, embarrassing, and complicated. The primary concern remains the ability to follow the mind and character in a clear and understandable approach.

Quinton's Corresponding Replies

According to Quinton, the memory remains an essential element of personal identity. However, memory alone cannot equate to personal identity since memory remains a fallible concept. Quinton supports his argument by stating that to establish a strong connection and truth about an individual's memories, one need to have a long and engaging conversation with the person. The conversation would no doubt demand the person's bodily presence. Thus, a memory alone may not establish an individual's identity. However, it remains a necessary component of bodily identity as well as a standard for identifying other persons. Quinton points out that the disembodiment of an individual without the concept of memory could most likely fail. Firstly, Quinton's argument points to the irrefutable fact that an individual only speak of mind or soul while distinguishing other minds or souls. However, as Quinton points out, in the pre-term situation, identification remains a purely functional aspect of the body as it would not make sense if, after one passes away, the identified function adopts the mind or soul. In the case the brain dissolves, one's conscious awareness ceases. Even if there is logical coherence, the disembodiment of the mind or soul only identifies the "human being" concept that once lived. Quinton supports the argument by distinguishing the body and mind concept from the reference of independent minds separate from the individual existing entities in B and C.

Quinton's Successful Defense

Quinton's response, argument, and defense remains stable, adequate, and relevant, considering the concept of self-awareness and the continuity of human physical identity. His rhetoric on personal identity remains strong and coherent rationally. Although Quinton offers no assertions in his argument, his perception appeals to intuition and judgment. For example, a mind cannot have private thoughts while at the same time has a personal crisis in identify. The primary features that Quinton recognizes relate significantly to the concept of truce in which the body and mind identify as one. In situations where the mind and body exist apart, separate entities would disregard the original bodies. Quinton's argument fronts not only the ultimate way of identity but also a survival consistency that denotes a body reference to the mind. Quinton is assuredly rational in presenting the significance of the memory and body factor in personal identity, a feat that recognizes the disembodiment of a person.

Conclusion

Quinton provides a rational and fundamental argument on the concept of character and memory, chief criterion for personal identity. In the argument, Quinton observes that multiple sets of memory constitute a distinct person denoting to own identity. A body exhibits fundamental traits that point to one's distinct character despite one person taking up the bodily characteristics or mental characteristics of another. In the stated scenarios, B and C, Quinton exhibits a rational argument that strongly associates character traits to memories identified in independent bodies.