Prompt # 5
One of John Locke’s purposes in, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” is to establish a clear distinction between primary and secondary qualities that are perceived in bodies. To prove this, Locke argues that primary qualities are solidity, extension, figure, rest, motion and inhere in a body. Then, he proposes that secondary qualities are color, tastes, sounds, and smells that are separable from a body and are rather powers to produce sensations in us by the use of their primary qualities. Therefore, primary qualities inhere in objects and secondary qualities are dependent on them. Locke, effectively delivers this argument by presenting various scenarios that prove to be a challenge to the existence of secondary qualities …show more content…
Other ideas do not resemble their causes, those which are secondary qualities. Primary qualities include texture, number, shape, size, and motion. Secondary qualities are composed of color, odors, tastes, and sounds. For example, if one perceived a yellow triangle, the shape would be the triangle which is a primarily quality, while the yellow would be a secondary quality because it would be a color. So one would have a “yellow triangle sensation.” Locke would say that the sensation of triangularity resemble the property in the object, it being a triangle that produces the sensation in one. However, the yellowness would not resemble the property of the object that produces the sensation in one because there is no yellowness in the world. The sensation of shape in this case, is because shape exists in the external world. The cause of this would be the arrangement of unperceivable particles of matter. Locke, in his example says, “ [f]lame is denominated hot and light…[w]hich qualities are commonly thought to be the same in those bodies that those ideas are in us, the one perfectly resemblance of the other, as they are in a mirror…”(Ariew, Watkins 334). The primary qualities are thought to be resemblances of our ideas because they compose the properties of the things we perceive in the real world. In contrast, secondary qualities produce ideas in human beings that do not …show more content…
He groups together the simple ideas of extension, figure, rest,number, solidity, and motion and classifies them as primary qualities because, according to him, they exist within an object even when broken apart into several pieces. To further explain this conclusion, he says, “take a grain of wheat, and divide it into two parts, each part has still solidity, extension, figure, and mobility...divide it on until the parts become insensible, they must retain still each of them all those qualities (Ariew, Watkins 333). Locke’s example makes it clear that if one alters a grain of wheat, it would still possess its primary qualities because they are inherent in the object. For example, if a Hershey’s chocolate bar was divided among ten people, the primary qualities would still be present in the candy bar. Still, Lcke is not arguing each piece of chocolate will have the same figure, extension, and motion, rather he is establishing that these ideas, the primary qualities, exist in every single piece. So according to Locke’s explanation, every piece of the candy bar has figure or shape, extension, and solidity which fills space. Even if the candy bar is completely crushed, the tiny pieces will have these “real qualities”. In effect, Locke would agree that whether we perceive them or not, primary qualities, exist independently from our minds.
Furthermore, Locke presents his views of secondary qualities,
One of John Locke’s purposes in, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” is to establish a clear distinction between primary and secondary qualities that are perceived in bodies. To prove this, Locke argues that primary qualities are solidity, extension, figure, rest, motion and inhere in a body. Then, he proposes that secondary qualities are color, tastes, sounds, and smells that are separable from a body and are rather powers to produce sensations in us by the use of their primary qualities. Therefore, primary qualities inhere in objects and secondary qualities are dependent on them. Locke, effectively delivers this argument by presenting various scenarios that prove to be a challenge to the existence of secondary qualities …show more content…
Other ideas do not resemble their causes, those which are secondary qualities. Primary qualities include texture, number, shape, size, and motion. Secondary qualities are composed of color, odors, tastes, and sounds. For example, if one perceived a yellow triangle, the shape would be the triangle which is a primarily quality, while the yellow would be a secondary quality because it would be a color. So one would have a “yellow triangle sensation.” Locke would say that the sensation of triangularity resemble the property in the object, it being a triangle that produces the sensation in one. However, the yellowness would not resemble the property of the object that produces the sensation in one because there is no yellowness in the world. The sensation of shape in this case, is because shape exists in the external world. The cause of this would be the arrangement of unperceivable particles of matter. Locke, in his example says, “ [f]lame is denominated hot and light…[w]hich qualities are commonly thought to be the same in those bodies that those ideas are in us, the one perfectly resemblance of the other, as they are in a mirror…”(Ariew, Watkins 334). The primary qualities are thought to be resemblances of our ideas because they compose the properties of the things we perceive in the real world. In contrast, secondary qualities produce ideas in human beings that do not …show more content…
He groups together the simple ideas of extension, figure, rest,number, solidity, and motion and classifies them as primary qualities because, according to him, they exist within an object even when broken apart into several pieces. To further explain this conclusion, he says, “take a grain of wheat, and divide it into two parts, each part has still solidity, extension, figure, and mobility...divide it on until the parts become insensible, they must retain still each of them all those qualities (Ariew, Watkins 333). Locke’s example makes it clear that if one alters a grain of wheat, it would still possess its primary qualities because they are inherent in the object. For example, if a Hershey’s chocolate bar was divided among ten people, the primary qualities would still be present in the candy bar. Still, Lcke is not arguing each piece of chocolate will have the same figure, extension, and motion, rather he is establishing that these ideas, the primary qualities, exist in every single piece. So according to Locke’s explanation, every piece of the candy bar has figure or shape, extension, and solidity which fills space. Even if the candy bar is completely crushed, the tiny pieces will have these “real qualities”. In effect, Locke would agree that whether we perceive them or not, primary qualities, exist independently from our minds.
Furthermore, Locke presents his views of secondary qualities,