Locke and the Scriblerians: Identity and Consciousness in Early Eighteenth-Century Britain

Through a wide-ranging study of primary sources, Christopher Fox identifies and details a decisive moment in the history of the concept of the self. A key figure here is John Locke; the crucial document, his chapter on "Identity and Diversity" added to the second edition ofAn Essay Concerning Human Understanding(1694). Locke's new concept of "identity of consciousness" was hotly debated for the next half century in philosophical, theological, and literary circles, and Fox makes a significant contribution in drawing attention to this controversy. By situatingThe Memoirs of Scriblerusin the debates, Fox also brings needed attention to a Scriblerian performance that deserves to be better known today. Fox's book is necessary reading for anyone interested in the eighteenth century, in Locke and the Scriblerians, and in the larger history of the concepts of "self" and "consciousness."Fox, Christopher is the author of 'Locke and the Scriblerians: Identity and Consciousness in Early Eighteenth-Century Britain' with ISBN 9780520058590 and ISBN 0520058593.