Single Idea 12527

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 2. Associationism]

Full Idea

Some of our ideas have a natural correspondence and connexion one with another. ...Besides this there is another connexion of ideas wholly owing to chance or custom.

Gist of Idea

Some ideas connect together naturally, while others connect by chance or custom

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.33.05)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.395


A Reaction

This strikes me as a more promising account of associations that the one offered by Hume, since Locke distinguishes the associations that seem somehow right and natural from those that seem merely conventional.