x Rene Descartes and John Locke, both seventeenth century philosophers, have their own individual views and opinions pertaining to particular subjects such as the origin of ideas. Both of these philosophers attempt to find answers to many of the same questions in epistemology as well as metaphysics. While Descartes is a rationalist, Locke is an imperialist; his ideas come from experience. Locke and Descartes have differing views on various multiple subjects, but both philosophers support their opinions effectively. After having read both of these philosophers’ points of view, I found that they both have strong points as well as weak points to their arguments, though one of them has the better account of the derivation of ideas in my opinion.
…show more content…
He believes that sense perceptions ultimately provide us the warrant for all knowledge, that they alone are clear and distinct.” Locke’s views were very imperialistic. He believed that ideas come from experience. John Locke also believed in Tabula Rasa, which means blank state. This means that he believed every individual was born with a clean, blank sheet, with no ideas or knowledge written for them. “Consequently there are no innate principles, either in speculative or in practical philosophy.”2 He believed that all men are created equal, which is known as empiricism. Locke also shared his belief on the principle of identity, and principle of non-contradiction. Principle of identity is as simple as a=a; whatever is, is. However, principle of non-contradiction means that something can and can’t be at the same time. Locke believed in two types of knowledge, simple knowledge and complex knowledge. Simple knowledge is known as knowledge gathered directly from the world. Simple knowledge cannot be broken down into even simpler concepts. Complex knowledge, however, is derived from concepts assembled from simple knowledge. Locke also believes that our ideas are compositional. For example, simple ideas combine to form complex ideas, which then can be combined to form even more complex ideas. Complex ideas are known to be in three different groups: modes, substances, and relations. Ideas of modes are ideas of things that are dependent on substances. Modes are split up into two different types: simple and mixed. Simple modes are modes produced by combining a big number of a single type of simple ideas together. However, mixed modes involve coming simple ideas of more than one kind. Complex ideas of substance are ideas that are thought to exist independently. Ideas of relations are ideas that involve more than one substance. Locke strongly believes the views of all ideas along with everything that can be though of, can
He believes that sense perceptions ultimately provide us the warrant for all knowledge, that they alone are clear and distinct.” Locke’s views were very imperialistic. He believed that ideas come from experience. John Locke also believed in Tabula Rasa, which means blank state. This means that he believed every individual was born with a clean, blank sheet, with no ideas or knowledge written for them. “Consequently there are no innate principles, either in speculative or in practical philosophy.”2 He believed that all men are created equal, which is known as empiricism. Locke also shared his belief on the principle of identity, and principle of non-contradiction. Principle of identity is as simple as a=a; whatever is, is. However, principle of non-contradiction means that something can and can’t be at the same time. Locke believed in two types of knowledge, simple knowledge and complex knowledge. Simple knowledge is known as knowledge gathered directly from the world. Simple knowledge cannot be broken down into even simpler concepts. Complex knowledge, however, is derived from concepts assembled from simple knowledge. Locke also believes that our ideas are compositional. For example, simple ideas combine to form complex ideas, which then can be combined to form even more complex ideas. Complex ideas are known to be in three different groups: modes, substances, and relations. Ideas of modes are ideas of things that are dependent on substances. Modes are split up into two different types: simple and mixed. Simple modes are modes produced by combining a big number of a single type of simple ideas together. However, mixed modes involve coming simple ideas of more than one kind. Complex ideas of substance are ideas that are thought to exist independently. Ideas of relations are ideas that involve more than one substance. Locke strongly believes the views of all ideas along with everything that can be though of, can