Single Idea 12502

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 6. Fundamentals / d. Logical atoms]

Full Idea

All comparisons terminate in, and are concerned about those simple ideas, either of sensation or reflection; which I think to be the whole material of all our knowledge.

Gist of Idea

Comparisons boil down to simple elements of sensation or reflection

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.25.09)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.323


A Reaction

This seems to be an ancestor of logical atomism. Hume is inclined to make his 'atoms' strictly empirical (as 'impressions'), but Locke also allows simples of reflection, which may be a priori conceptual atoms.