Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Stephen Hetherington, John Locke and Scott Shalkowski

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2 ideas

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 4. Abstract Existence
General and universal are not real entities, but useful inventions of the mind, concerning words or ideas [Locke]
     Full Idea: It is plain that general and universal belong not to the real existence of things; but are the inventions and creatures of the understanding, made by it for its own use, and concern only signs, whether words or ideas.
     From: John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.03.11)
     A reaction: Frege and Geach viciously attacked this view, and it seems to be discredited, but I think it is time for a revival, given that the alternative view seems to lead to platonism. I take the first step in mental abstractionism to be pre-verbal.
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence
Existences can only be known by experience [Locke]
     Full Idea: The existence of things is to be known only from experience.
     From: John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.03.31)
     A reaction: This is the clearest statement you could wish for of the standard empiricist view of such things. Locke might take a broad view of experience, since he unshakably infers the existence of God from merely thinking about being.