Locke's Empiricism

Locke’s Argument for Human Understanding

He proposes that our ideas do not come from innate knowledge but from experiences (from both external and internal sources)

Locke’s definition of an Idea

He believes we have two different types of ideas: ideas that arise from sensation (external) and ideas that come from reflection (internal)

Sensation (ideas)

ideas which come from us sensing external objects and our mind then perceiving them

Reflection (Ideas)

ideas which are constructed by the mind alone

as we form perceptions of what is going on in our own mind

ex. we perceive our doubt, reasoning, knowledge.

Why does Locke believe we have no Innate principles?

1. There arent any topics in which we all reach consensus

2. Even if theres Universal consensus that doesn’t mean its right, it could be wrong and explained alternatively

3. It is impossible for the same thing to be and not to be

4. Children don’t have innate knowledge (so its contradictory to say we all are born with knowledge)

5. He could only find ideas that came from sensation and reflection

what are speculative principles?

what are practical principles?

1. having to do with what is the case

2. having to do with what ought to be the case (morality)

Argument from Universal Concensus

Principle X is accepted by everyone

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 Principle X is innate

“Some people have argued that because these principles are (they think) universally accepted, they must have been stamped onto the souls of men from the outset.”

Objections to Locke’s Argument

1. Birth defects aren’t relevant to normal cases

2. Innate knowledge/concepts may be latent.

3. Innate knowledge/concepts may be tacit.

Objection 1: Birth defects aren’t relevant to normal cases

Says that people born with developmental brith defects may not have innate knowledge, but healthy people do

in the same way that we cant all be born with legs, some of us are legless, but that doesnt mean the people with legs are also legless

Objection 2: Innate knowledge/concepts may be latent.

argues that innate knowledge is a latent quality (one which comes later)

Children have innate knowledge but its doesnt come later just like how a boy cannot grow a beard but a man can

Objection 3: Innate knowledge/concepts may be tacit

argues that children and Ideots have innate knowledge but are simply not aware that they have it

not unreasonable as we ofter believe things implicitly/tacitly (which we cannot describe)