An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1: MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 1 and 2Locke, John
Philosophy
An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1: MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 1 and 2
Locke, John
Knowledge, Theory of -- Early works to 1800
Whatever then we talk of innate, either speculative or practical,
principles, it may with as much probability be said, that a man hath
100 pounds sterling in his pocket, and yet denied that he hath there
either penny, shilling, crown, or other coin out of which the sum is to
be made up; as to think that certain PROPOSITIONS are innate when the
IDEAS about which they are can by no means be supposed to be so. The
general reception and assent that is given doth not at all prove, that
the ideas expressed in them are innate; for in many cases, however the
ideas came there, the assent to words expressing the agreement or
disagreement of such ideas, will necessarily follow. Every one that
hath a true idea of GOD and WORSHIP, will assent to this proposition,
‘That God is to be worshipped,’ when expressed in a language he
understands; and every rational man that hath not thought on it to-day,
may be ready to assent to this proposition to-morrow; and yet millions
of men may be well supposed to want one or both those ideas to-day.
For, if we will allow savages, and most country people, to have ideas
of God and worship, (which conversation with them will not make one
forward to believe,) yet I think few children can be supposed to have
those ideas, which therefore they must begin to have some time or
other; and then they will also begin to assent to that proposition, and
make very little question of it ever after. But such an assent upon
hearing, no more proves the IDEAS to be innate, than it does that one
born blind (with cataracts which will be couched to-morrow) had the
innate ideas of the sun, or light, or saffron, or yellow; because, when
his sight is cleared, he will certainly assent to this proposition,
“That the sun is lucid, or that saffron is yellow.” And therefore, if
such an assent upon hearing cannot prove the ideas innate, it can much
less the PROPOSITIONS made up of those ideas. If they have any innate
ideas, I would be glad to be told what, and how many, they are.
21. No innate Ideas in the Memory.
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