more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 12472
[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / a. Innate knowledge
]
Full Idea
If the capacity of knowing be the natural Impression contended for, all the Truths a man ever comes to know, will, by this Account, be, every one of them, innate.
Gist of Idea
If the only test of innateness is knowing, then all of our knowledge is innate
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 1.02.05)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.50
A Reaction
It seems to be a nice empiricist's question, what experience involved in thinking an idea gives a hallmark that it is innate rather than acquired? Perhaps only 'I couldn't have thought of that myself', as Descartes says of several ideas.
The
16 ideas
with the same theme
[knowledge that arise from within the mind]:
|
5052
|
When Gentiles follow the law, they must have the law written in their hearts
[Paul]
|
|
22169
|
Initial universal truths are present within us as potential, to be drawn out by reason
[Aquinas]
|
|
3630
|
Our thinking about external things doesn't disprove the existence of innate ideas
[Descartes]
|
|
24022
|
Our souls possess divine seeds of knowledge, which can bear spontaneous fruit
[Descartes]
|
|
7570
|
Innate ideas are trivial (if they are just potentials) or absurd (if they claim infants know a lot)
[Locke, by Jolley]
|
|
12472
|
If the only test of innateness is knowing, then all of our knowledge is innate
[Locke]
|
|
7709
|
A proposition can't be in the mind if we aren't conscious of it
[Locke]
|
|
4018
|
Innate ideas were followed up with innate doctrines, which stopped reasoning and made social control possible
[Locke]
|
|
12929
|
All of our thoughts come from within the soul, and not from the senses
[Leibniz]
|
|
12933
|
Arithmetic and geometry are implicitly innate, awaiting revelation
[Leibniz]
|
|
12991
|
Children learn language fast, with little instruction and few definitions
[Leibniz]
|
|
21081
|
We are equipped with the a priori intuitions needed for the concept of right
[Kant]
|
|
14774
|
Innate truths are very uncertain and full of error, so they certainly have exceptions
[Peirce]
|
|
2990
|
Contrary to commonsense, most of what is in the mind seems to be unlearned
[Fodor]
|
|
3008
|
Evolution suggests that innate knowledge of human psychology would be beneficial
[Fodor]
|
|
3009
|
Sticklebacks have an innate idea that red things are rivals
[Fodor]
|