1 John Locke’s Theory of Knowledge ( )

2 Empiricist All knowledge is derived from experience

3 First systematic assault on Cartesian Rationalism Rejected Descartes’ claim of Innate Ideas

4 Locke’s Reasons for Rejecting Innate Ideas

5 1. Children and Idiots do not possess them

6 2. Empirical basis seems more reasonable

7 Major Concept in Locke’s Theory of Knowledge

8 Tabula Rasa

9 Blank Slate Our minds at birth are a blank slate that experience writes upon

10 All knowledge begins with sensory experience on which the powers of the mind operate

11 Simple Experiences and Ideas Our mind begins with simple experiences and develops simple ideas from these experiences

12 Example A color seen A sound heard

13 Complex Ideas The joining together of many simple ideas “A red ball”

14 Higher Complex Ideas The development of higher level and more complex ideas E = mc2

15 Absolute Knowledge? The only absolute knowledge we can have is the self-evident knowledge that we exist

16 All other knowledge? Degrees of certainty derived from inductive generalizations

17 Example We see the sun rise every morning and infer that it is highly probable that it will rise tomorrow But it is not absolutely certain

18 Objects of Sensation Mind-Independent objects that cause sensations in us

19 Sense Data The physical objects of sensation cause our senses to be affected

Our senses convey to our minds distinct perceptions of these objects of sensation 20

21 This sense data is transformed into thoughts and ideas

22 Objects of Reflection The Ideas / Thoughts the Objects of Sensation have stimulated in our minds

23 Once the objects of sensation have stimulated the mind We begin to develop simple ideas of the Objects of Sensation These are Objects of Reflection

24 We develop these ideas and think more about them (the ideas) (not the physical object itself)

25 Objects of Reflection Include Thinking Doubting Believing Reasoning Knowing Willing Introspection

26 Primary Qualities Those qualities / properties that an object of sensation (physical objects) have within itself Mind Independent Quality

27 Examples Solidarity Extension Figure Motion Number

28 Secondary Qualities Those qualities / properties That are not In the Objects of Sensations But are produced in the perceiver by the primary qualities

29 Mind-Dependent Qualities Color Taste Texture Sound Smell

30

Reality? Our minds do not deal directly with objective reality 31

Reality? Our minds only deal with Ideas Representations of reality 32

33 Levels of Knowledge

34 Intuitive Knowledge The knowledge the mind perceives immediately (at first sight)

35 Example A Square is not a Circle

36 Reasoning When the mind does not immediately perceive agreement or disagreement of ideas We must think about the ideas

37 Example =26

38 Probability and Faith The demonstration does not provide a constant and convincing connection between the ideas

39 Example God exists