I do not yet have a sufficient understanding of what this "I" is, that now nescessarily exists.

.Define the nature of a thinking being.
(Define Identity.)

To discover wherein personal identity consists, one must consider what a person stands for.

A person is a thinking, intelligent being.
That has reason and reflection and can consider itself as itself.
The same thinking thing in different times and places.
Which it does only by that conciousness which is inseperable from thinking.


 

Conciousness always accompanies thinking.

There are some philosophers who state that we are at every moment.
 
 Moment.
       Moment.
             Moment.

 

C O N S C I O U S...
 

...of what we call our...
SELF
We feel its existence and its continuance in existence.
We are certain beyond the eviddence of a demonstration both of its perfect identity.
&
S I M P L I C I T Y

These positive assertions are contrary to the very experience which is pleaded for them.
Nor have we any idea of self after the manner it is here explained.

For from what impression could this idea be derived?
It has to be some one impression that essentially gives rise to every real idea.

Although, self or person is not any one impression.
If any impression gives rise to the idea of self.
That impression must continue invariably the same through ad infinitum.
THERE IS NO SUCH IMPRESSION
There is no impression constant and invariable.

I may venture to affirm, of the rest of mankind,
That we are all just a BUNDLE or COLLECTION of different perceptions.

Perceptions that which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity.
Perceptions that which are in a perpetual flux and movement.
Our eyes cannot turn in their sockets without varying our perceptions.
 

ALL OTHER SENSES AND FACULTIES CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CHANGE


The mind is a theatre.
Several perceptions successively make their appearance.

Pass.

                                                                 Re-Pass.
Glide Away.
 

                                                  Mingle.
In an infinite variety of postures and situations.

We have a distinct idea of an object that remains invarible and uninterrupted through time.
This idea we call that of identity or sameness.

    Suppose a very small or inconsiderable part to be added to a mass or subtracted from it.
    Though it absolutely destroys the identity of the whole, strictly speaking.

Yet as we seldom think so accurately, we scruple not to pronounce a mass of matter the same.

Now proceed to explain the nature of personal identity.
                                           The identity which we ascribe to the mind of man is only a fictitious one.
& of a like kind with that which we ascribe to vegetables and animal bodies.

The subtle questions of identity can never possibly be answered or decided.

They are to be regarded rather as grammatical more than a philosophical difficulties.
Identity depends on the relations of ideas; these relations produce identity