Identity is defined as the distinguishing character or personality of an individual¹. Considering that distinctions are normally made through comparisons, would mean that the identities of an individual exist, when that individual is compared with others, and it creates a distinction that might not include everybody.

Identity and the individual

Identities are such that an individual normally has more than one that is attached to them. So, if we take the example of a person that was born, say in the year 1950. That person, in addition to having the identity of being a living entity, an animal, and a person, would also have the identity of being a person that was born in the year 1950. They could also be identified through their gender, the language they speak and the part of the world that they were born. For some, the colour of their skin, the colour of their eyes, the texture of their hair, etc. could be used to create an identity for themselves.

As can be noticed from the examples of identities given above, some could be said to be related to the physical attributes that a person has, and those that are not, said to be created by people. We could therefore say that the identities that are not related to the physical attributes of a person are created in the mind. What this implies is that identities can be created.

It is my opinion that individuals, as they go through time collect different identities. Of the collected identities that a person has, at any given point in time, some are active, whilst others are dormant, during those points in time. Active personalities are defined as those that the person whose identity is looked at, identifies with, at those times.

In summary, one could say that an individual can be identified with a number of identities, some of which are related to their physical attribute, and others not. The number of identities that a person has, has the possibility to increase with time, as a result of the non-physical identities that the person could acquire. Also, at a given point in time, some of the identities are active, and others dormant, of course with the possibility of those that are active becoming dormant and vice-versa, with time.

Identity and society

As people, we tend to live in societies, which means that we live with others. This raises the question of the relationship that exists between the different identities that the different members of a society have, and how these identities could relate to the society.

As a society is made up of individuals, with each of the individuals having a set of identities, there is the possibility that some of the identities that one member of the society has might be similar to those that another member of the society has. This means that within a society, would exist a subgroup, that is made up of those that have a common identity.

As was noted, the definition of identity, creates a distinction. This means that within a society, there might be some identities that are common only to a part of the society. Similarly, there also might be identities that are common to all members of the society.

Those identities that are not common to everyone within a society, when not treated with care, could lead to possible conflicts between those with a particular identity and others who do not have that identity. This conflict, if not again treated carefully, could lead to situations where detriment could happen to some of the members of a society, as a result of the particular identity.

So, what then can society do with the identities that its members have? The answer to this question, in my opinion, would depend on the goals and aims that a society has. In my opinion, the most important goal that any society should have would be to create an environment that would ensure that all its members are able to live in peace with one another.

How then could this goal sit with the existence of the multiple identities that each member of society has, and how would they relate with the identities that others have? My view is that society cannot, in any way, try to inhibit the identities that an individual within it has. This is because an individual cannot be at peace if they are not allowed to have an identity that they have chosen for themselves.

So, if society allows people to keep their identities, what should it do, if there is a conflict between different identities? I believe that the solution to this problem of a possible conflict caused by identities can be found, paradoxically, in identities. As identities are distinguishing characteristics, so is being a person that lives inside of a society, being a human being, being an animal or being a living thing. These are identities that could be said to be inclusive. Their inclusivity would be in contrast with those identities that could lead to conflicts, which are exclusive.