International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Locke’s Theory of Personal Identity and Artificial Intelligence: Philosophical and Ethical Implications.

Author(s) Ms. Bijuli Rajiyung
Country India
Abstract The paper examines John Locke’s theory of personal identity in light of contemporary advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Locke argued that personal identity is grounded in consciousness and the continuity of memory. According to his view, what makes someone the same person over time is not the substance of the soul or body, but rather the persistence of conscious experience and memory. Applying this perspective to modern AI systems, many capable of learning, storing information, and referencing past states, raises compelling philosophical questions. Can machines that demonstrate continuity of memory and some level of self-awareness be considered “persons” in a Lockean sense? This analysis explores how Locke’s criteria might apply to AI entities and the potential implications for how we understand personhood today. If memory continuity is sufficient for identity, then some advanced AI systems might qualify as persons, at least conceptually. The paper also investigates the ethical consequences of this possibility. These include whether such AI systems could bear moral responsibility, whether they might be entitled to certain rights, and what role cognitive architecture plays in defining the boundary between human and artificial persons. By bridging classical philosophical theory and modern technological developments, this study aims to contribute to the growing discourse on AI and identity. In doing so, it offers a fresh perspective on Locke’s enduring relevance and encourages deeper reflection on the nature of selfhood in an age of intelligent machines.
Keywords Personal Identity, John Locke, Artificial Intelligence, Memory Continuity, Personhood, Moral Responsibility.
Field Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On 2025-06-10
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.44933
Short DOI https://doi.org/g9pztn
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