Single Idea 4018

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / a. Innate knowledge]

Full Idea

Once innate ideas were established, it was necessary for their followers to receive some doctrines as such, to put them off using their own reason, so that they might be more easily governed.

Clarification

'Innate' ideas are those said to be born within us

Gist of Idea

Innate ideas were followed up with innate doctrines, which stopped reasoning and made social control possible

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 1.03.25?), quoted by Charles Taylor - Sources of the Self §9.1

Book Reference

Taylor,Charles: 'Sources of the Self' [CUP 1992], p.169


A Reaction

Presumably anti-Catholic, though it sounds Marxist. It is hard to challenge innate ideas, but it is hard to challenge Hume's 'natural beliefs'.