lec 11 lec 7

Overview of the LectureThis lecture focuses on Book Three of John Locke's essay, highlighting his examination of language, its reform, and its implications for understanding truth and knowledge in the context of empiricism.

Empiricism and Language

• Francis Bacon and Thomas Hobbes emphasized the reform of language as key to clarity in both popular and philosophical discussions.

• Language reform is seen as essential for accessing truth about reality and for the acquisition of knowledge.

• Locke adopts this perspective in diagnosing language's imperfections and identifying abuses within it.

Concepts from Locke's Theory

• Simple vs. Complex Ideas: Locke posits that simple ideas are passively received from experiences, which the mind then combines to form complex ideas.

• Abstraction: The process of moving from particular to general ideas through abstraction is central to Locke's account. However, the mechanism of abstraction is debated among scholars.

  • Criticism by Berkeley: Berkeley challenges the coherence of Locke’s conception of abstraction, arguing that if all ideas are images, abstract ideas cannot function as Locke suggests.

  • Imagism Debate: Michael Ayers argues that both Locke and Berkeley are imagists, though this claim is contested.

Abstraction and Attention

• The lecture explores how individuals know what aspects of reality to abstract from specific experiences.

• Questions arise about whether collective attention is sufficient for effective abstraction, and whether there's an inherent tendency, from a design or evolutionary standpoint, to focus on particular aspects of reality.

Locke's Distinction: Real vs. Nominal Essence

• Essences Defined:

  • Real Essence: Refers to the unknown, atomic structure of a substance responsible for its properties.

  • Nominal Essence: Involves the traits we attribute to categories of substances based on perception.

• Locke critiques the Aristotelian view that essence mirrors natural divisions in reality, arguing instead for a pragmatic approach to classification.

Pragmatism Vs. Natural Essentialism

• Locke’s rejection of fixed essences represents a significant shift from the Aristotelian view.

• He argues that various classifications of the world can be equally valid depending on their usefulness, challenging the notion of a singular, discoverable classification in nature.

Modal Ideas and Classification

• Locke distinguishes between modal ideas (constructed by us) and substances (natural kinds).

• His pragmatism leads to an understanding that classifications do not necessarily reflect inherent natures but can serve practical purposes.

Ethics and Moral Language

• Locke contemplates whether morality can have a deductive system, similar to mathematics, challenging the notion that ethics must be tied to empirical facts.

• He asserts that concepts of value might dictate to the world instead of being wholly responsive to it.

Critiques and Responses

• Critics argue Locke's views may lack substance when rejecting fixed essences.

• Fans of Aristotle may perceive Locke’s ideas on real essence as equally vacuous.

• Conversely, proponents of Darwinian evolution find Locke's pragmatism more aligned with contemporary views.

The Need for Linguistic Clarity

• Locke warns against the misuse of language and the tendency to express ideas without clarity.

• He advocates for greater awareness of meaning in both civil and philosophical discussions to avoid misunderstandings.

• Suggestions for improving communication include adhering to common usage and making any deviations explicit.

Conclusion

• The lecture foreshadows the next discussion, which will cover the final book of Locke's essay, potentially expanding on these themes.