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Single Idea 12529
[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / e. Individuation by kind
]
Full Idea
I call a name 'sortal' from 'sort', as I do 'general' from 'genus'.
Gist of Idea
I speak of a 'sortal' name, from the word 'sort'
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.03.15)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.417
The
227 ideas
from 'Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed)'
15983
|
Locke explains powers, but effectively eliminates them with his talk of internal structure
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
6487
|
Locke, Berkeley and Hume did no serious thinking about universals
[Robinson,H on Locke]
|
12810
|
We can conceive an individual without assigning it to a kind
[Locke, by Jolley]
|
16787
|
Explanatory essence won't do, because it won't distinguish the accidental from the essential
[Locke, by Pasnau]
|
16028
|
Lockean real essence makes a thing what it is, and produces its observable qualities
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
15646
|
If essence is 'nominal', artificial gold (with its surface features) would qualify as 'gold'
[Locke, by Eagle]
|
12306
|
'Nominal essence' is everything contained in the idea of a particular sort of thing
[Locke, by Copi]
|
16031
|
Real essence explains observable qualities, but not what kind of thing it is
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
12804
|
There are no independent natural kinds - or our classifications have to be subjective
[Locke, by Jolley]
|
15989
|
Colours, smells and tastes are ideas; the secondary qualities have no colour, smell or taste
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
6725
|
Locke believes matter is an inert, senseless substance, with extension, figure and motion
[Locke, by Berkeley]
|
15982
|
Qualities are named as primary if they are needed for scientific explanation
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
15973
|
In my view Locke's 'textures' are groups of corpuscles which are powers (rather than 'having' powers)
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
2793
|
It is unclear how identity, equality, perfection, God, power and cause derive from experience
[Locke, by Dancy,J]
|
6488
|
Locke has no patience with scepticism
[Locke, by Robinson,H]
|
16037
|
Locke seems to use real essence for scientific explanation, and substratum for the being of a thing
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
2555
|
For Locke knowledge relates to objects, not to propositions
[Locke, by Rorty]
|
7721
|
Locke's view that thoughts are made of ideas asserts the crucial role of imagination
[Locke]
|
5512
|
Locke uses 'self' for a momentary entity, and 'person' for an extended one
[Locke, by Martin/Barresi]
|
5175
|
Personal identity is my perceptions, but not my memory, as I forget too much
[Ayer on Locke]
|
6139
|
Locke implies that each thought has two thinkers - me, and 'my' substance
[Merricks on Locke]
|
5513
|
Two persons might have qualitatively identical consciousnesses, so that isn't enough
[Kant on Locke]
|
1345
|
Locke's move from substance to consciousness is a slippery slope
[Butler on Locke]
|
5511
|
For Locke, conscious awareness unifies a person at an instant and over time
[Locke, by Martin/Barresi]
|
6712
|
For Locke, abstract ideas are our main superiority of understanding over animals
[Locke, by Berkeley]
|
5827
|
A species of thing is an abstract idea, and a word is a sign that refers to the idea
[Locke]
|
15966
|
Boyle and Locke believed corpuscular structures necessitate their powers of interaction
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
15986
|
Boyle and Locke suspect forces of being occult
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
9438
|
Maybe analysis seeks the 'nominal essence', and metaphysics seeks the 'real essence'
[Locke, by Mumford]
|
8084
|
Syllogisms are verbal fencing, not discovery
[Locke]
|
7653
|
I am just an under-labourer, clearing the ground in preparation for knowledge
[Locke]
|
7570
|
Innate ideas are trivial (if they are just potentials) or absurd (if they claim infants know a lot)
[Locke, by Jolley]
|
6486
|
Ideas are the objects of understanding when we think
[Locke]
|
15967
|
The word 'idea' covers thinking best, for imaginings, concepts, and basic experiences
[Locke]
|
12471
|
Innate ideas are nothing, if they are in the mind but we are unaware of them
[Locke]
|
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]
|
2603
|
If we aren't aware that an idea is innate, the concept of innate is meaningless; if we do, all ideas seem innate
[Locke]
|
7723
|
The senses first let in particular ideas, which furnish the empty cabinet
[Locke]
|
12473
|
We can demand a reason for any moral rule
[Locke]
|
4130
|
There couldn't be a moral rule of which a man could not justly demand a reason
[Locke]
|
4018
|
Innate ideas were followed up with innate doctrines, which stopped reasoning and made social control possible
[Locke]
|
10326
|
Other men's opinions don't add to our knowledge - even when they are true
[Locke]
|
7724
|
All the ideas written on the white paper of the mind can only come from one place - experience
[Locke]
|
7507
|
The mind is white paper, with no writing, or ideas
[Locke]
|
12474
|
The mind is a blank page, on which only experience can write
[Locke]
|
12475
|
All our ideas derive either from sensation, or from inner reflection
[Locke]
|
5002
|
Consciousness is the perception of what passes in a man's own mind
[Locke]
|
16685
|
An insurmountable force in a body keeps our hands apart when we handle it
[Locke]
|
12476
|
Every external object or internal idea suggests to us the idea of unity
[Locke]
|
12477
|
We get the idea of power from our own actions, and the interaction of external bodies
[Locke]
|
12478
|
A 'quality' is a power to produce an idea in our minds
[Locke]
|
12479
|
Primary qualities produce simple ideas, such as solidity, extension, motion and number
[Locke]
|
15971
|
Secondary qualities are powers of complex primary qualities to produce sensations in us
[Locke]
|
16032
|
To explain qualities, Locke invokes primary and secondary qualities, not real essences
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
12480
|
Ideas of primary qualities resemble their objects, but those of secondary qualities don't
[Locke]
|
7049
|
In Locke, the primary qualities are also powers
[Locke, by Heil]
|
7050
|
I suspect that Locke did not actually believe colours are 'in the mind'
[Locke, by Heil]
|
12481
|
Hands can report conflicting temperatures, but not conflicting shapes
[Locke]
|
12482
|
Molyneux's Question: could a blind man distinguish cube from sphere, if he regained his sight?
[Locke]
|
9083
|
The mind creates abstractions by generalising about appearances of objects, ignoring time or place
[Locke]
|
12483
|
Unlike humans, animals cannot entertain general ideas
[Locke]
|
15980
|
We can locate the parts of the universe, but not the whole thing
[Locke]
|
12484
|
Motion is just change of distance between two things
[Locke]
|
12485
|
We don't know what substance is, and only vaguely know what it does
[Locke]
|
12486
|
An 'instant' is where we perceive no succession, and is the time of a single idea
[Locke]
|
12487
|
We can never show that two successive periods of time were equal
[Locke]
|
12488
|
The idea of 'one' is the simplest, most obvious and most widespread idea
[Locke]
|
7782
|
Every simple idea we ever have brings the idea of unity along with it
[Locke]
|
12489
|
If there were real infinities, you could add two together, which is ridiculous
[Locke]
|
4019
|
Things are good and evil only in reference to pleasure and pain
[Locke]
|
12490
|
Power is active or passive, and has a relation to actions
[Locke]
|
12491
|
Asking whether man's will is free is liking asking if sleep is fast or virtue is square
[Locke]
|
12492
|
Liberty is a power of agents, so can't be an attribute of wills
[Locke]
|
12493
|
A man is free insofar as he can act according to his own preferences
[Locke]
|
12494
|
Men are not free to will, because they cannot help willing
[Locke]
|
3792
|
We are free to decide not to follow our desires
[Locke]
|
12495
|
Pursuit of happiness is the highest perfection of intellectual nature
[Locke]
|
12496
|
Complex ideas are all resolvable into simple ideas
[Locke]
|
12497
|
Causes are the substances which have the powers to produce action
[Locke]
|
7713
|
We identify substances by supposing that groups of sensations arise from an essence
[Locke]
|
12498
|
Particular substances are coexisting ideas that seem to flow from a hidden essence
[Locke]
|
7945
|
We think of substance as experienced qualities plus a presumed substratum of support
[Locke]
|
8546
|
Powers are part of our idea of substances
[Locke]
|
15979
|
Secondary qualities are simply the bare powers of an object
[Locke]
|
16038
|
Locke may distinguish real essence from internal constitution, claiming the latter is knowable
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
12499
|
Bodies distinctively have cohesion of parts, and power to communicate motion
[Locke]
|
16637
|
The absolute boundaries of our thought are the ideas we get from senses and the mind
[Locke]
|
12500
|
Thinking without matter and matter that thinks are equally baffling
[Locke]
|
12503
|
Identity means that the idea of a thing remains the same over time
[Locke]
|
12501
|
The mind can make a unity out of anything, no matter how diverse
[Locke]
|
12502
|
Comparisons boil down to simple elements of sensation or reflection
[Locke]
|
16796
|
Locke may accept coinciding material substances, such as body, man and person
[Locke, by Pasnau]
|
1211
|
Viewing an object at an instant, we perceive identity when we see it must be that thing and not another
[Locke]
|
12505
|
One thing cannot have two beginnings of existence, nor two things one beginning
[Locke]
|
12504
|
Two things can't occupy one place and time, which leads us to the idea of self-identity
[Locke]
|
1196
|
We can conceive of three sorts of substance: God, finite intelligence, and bodies
[Locke]
|
1197
|
No two thoughts at different times can be the same, as they have different beginnings
[Locke]
|
12508
|
Living things retain identity through change, by a principle of organisation
[Locke]
|
12506
|
A thing is individuated just by existing at a time and place
[Locke]
|
12507
|
A mass consists of its atoms, so the addition or removal of one changes its identity
[Locke]
|
12509
|
If the soul individuates a man, and souls are transferable, then a hog could be a man
[Locke]
|
12510
|
Not all identity is unity of substance
[Locke]
|
16795
|
Same person, man or substance are different identities, belonging to different ideas
[Locke]
|
1202
|
A person is intelligent, rational, self-aware, continuous, conscious
[Locke]
|
16797
|
Maybe Locke described the real essence of a person
[Locke, by Pasnau]
|
1364
|
Locke confuses the test for personal identity with the thing itself
[Reid on Locke]
|
12511
|
If consciousness is interrupted, and we forget our past selves, are we still the same thinking thing?
[Locke]
|
1372
|
Our personal identity must depend on something we are aware of, namely consciousness
[Locke]
|
1363
|
Locke's theory confusingly tries to unite consciousness and memory
[Reid on Locke]
|
1368
|
Locke mistakes similarity of a memory to its original event for identity
[Reid on Locke]
|
1373
|
Identity over time involves remembering actions just as they happened
[Locke]
|
1361
|
If identity is consciousness, could a person move between bodies or fragment into parts?
[Reid on Locke]
|
1376
|
Identity must be in consciousness not substance, because it seems transferable
[Locke]
|
12512
|
If someone becomes conscious of Nestor's actions, then he is Nestor
[Locke]
|
21326
|
Locke's memory theory of identity confuses personal identity with the test for it
[Reid on Locke]
|
12513
|
If a prince's soul entered a cobbler's body, the person would be the prince (and the man the cobbler)
[Locke]
|
1378
|
My little finger is part of me if I am conscious of it
[Locke]
|
1380
|
Should we punish people who commit crimes in their sleep?
[Locke]
|
1381
|
Someone mad then sane is two persons, judging by our laws and punishments
[Locke]
|
12514
|
On Judgement Day, no one will be punished for actions they cannot remember
[Locke]
|
1397
|
Locke sees underlying substance as irrelevant to personal identity
[Locke, by Noonan]
|
1387
|
Butler thought Locke's theory was doomed once he rejected mental substance
[Perry on Locke]
|
1386
|
A concern for happiness is the inevitable result of consciousness
[Locke]
|
1385
|
'Person' is a term used about responsibility, involving law, and happiness and misery
[Locke]
|
12515
|
Actions are virtuous if they are judged praiseworthy
[Locke]
|
12516
|
Obscure simple ideas result from poor senses, brief impressions, or poor memory
[Locke]
|
12517
|
Ideas are uncertain when they are unnamed, because too close to other ideas
[Locke]
|
12518
|
The mind cannot produce simple ideas
[Locke]
|
12519
|
Gold is supposed to have a real essence, from whence its detectable properties flow
[Locke]
|
12520
|
The best I can make of real essence is figure, size and connection of solid parts
[Locke]
|
12521
|
We can only know a thing's powers when we have combined it with many things
[Locke]
|
15988
|
The observable qualities are never the real essence, since they depend on real essence
[Locke]
|
12522
|
It is propositions which are true or false, though it is sometimes said of ideas
[Locke]
|
12523
|
If they refer to real substances, 'man' is a true idea and 'centaur' a false one
[Locke]
|
12524
|
For the correct reference of complex ideas, we can only refer to experts
[Locke]
|
2421
|
There is nothing illogical about inverted qualia
[Locke]
|
3522
|
The same object might produce violet in one mind and marigold in another
[Locke]
|
12525
|
The essence of a triangle is simple; presumably substance essences are similar
[Locke]
|
12526
|
Opposition to reason is mad
[Locke]
|
12527
|
Some ideas connect together naturally, while others connect by chance or custom
[Locke]
|
12528
|
If a man sees a friend die in a room, he associates the pain with the room
[Locke]
|
7716
|
Words were devised as signs for inner ideas, and their basic meaning is those ideas
[Locke]
|
7308
|
Words stand for the ideas in the mind of him that uses them
[Locke]
|
12305
|
Locke's essences determine the other properties, so the two will change together
[Locke, by Copi]
|
7717
|
All things that exist are particulars
[Locke]
|
7040
|
General words represent general ideas, which are abstractions from immediate circumstances
[Locke]
|
8910
|
General and universal are not real entities, but useful inventions of the mind, concerning words or ideas
[Locke]
|
15644
|
In nominal essence, Locke confuses the set of properties with the abstracted idea of them
[Eagle on Locke]
|
11155
|
Essence is the very being of any thing, whereby it is what it is
[Locke]
|
12529
|
I speak of a 'sortal' name, from the word 'sort'
[Locke]
|
15985
|
It is impossible for two things with the same real essence to differ in properties
[Locke]
|
12530
|
The less rational view of essences is that they are moulds for kinds of natural thing
[Locke]
|
13431
|
A space between three lines is both the nominal and real essence of a triangle, the source of its properties
[Locke]
|
13771
|
Real essence is the constitution of the unknown parts of a body which produce its qualities
[Locke]
|
16029
|
Locke's real and nominal essence refers back to Aristotle's real and nominal definitions
[Locke, by Jones,J-E]
|
12531
|
Nominal Essence is the abstract idea to which a name is attached
[Locke]
|
13433
|
Essences relate to sorting words; if you replace those with names, essences vanish
[Locke]
|
13434
|
In our ideas, the idea of essence is inseparable from the concept of a species
[Locke]
|
12809
|
Nothing about me is essential
[Locke]
|
16786
|
You can't distinguish individuals without the species as a standard
[Locke]
|
12532
|
Even real essence depends on a sort, since it is sorts which have the properties
[Locke]
|
12533
|
Real essences are unknown, so only the nominal essence connects things to a species
[Locke]
|
16035
|
If we based species on real essences, the individuals would be as indistinguishable as two circles
[Locke]
|
15976
|
What is the texture - the real essence - which makes substances behave in distinct ways?
[Locke]
|
13435
|
We can't categorise things by their real essences, because these are unknown
[Locke]
|
15170
|
We distinguish species by their nominal essence, not by their real essence
[Locke]
|
13436
|
There are no gaps in the continuum of nature, and everything has something closely resembling it
[Locke]
|
12534
|
We cannot know what properties are necessary to gold, unless we first know its real essence
[Locke]
|
12535
|
If we discovered real essences, we would still categorise things by the external appearance
[Locke]
|
12536
|
We sort and name substances by nominal and not by real essence
[Locke]
|
12537
|
To be a nominal essence, a complex idea must exhibit unity
[Locke]
|
12539
|
If every sort has its real essence, one horse, being many sorts, will have many essences
[Locke]
|
12538
|
Genus is a partial conception of species, and species a partial idea of individuals
[Locke]
|
16036
|
Internal constitution doesn't decide a species; should a watch contain four wheels or five?
[Locke]
|
12540
|
Artificial things like watches and pistols have distinct kinds
[Locke]
|
15974
|
The essence of whiteness in a man is nothing but the power to produce the idea of whiteness
[Locke]
|
13423
|
The schools recognised that they don't really know essences, because they couldn't coin names for them
[Locke]
|
15991
|
Since words are just conventional, we can represent our own ideas with any words we please
[Locke]
|
15978
|
I take 'matter' to be a body, excluding its extension in space and its shape
[Locke]
|
15992
|
Many individuals grouped under one name vary more than some things that have different names
[Locke]
|
12541
|
Morality can be demonstrated, because we know the real essences behind moral words
[Locke]
|
12542
|
Knowledge is just the connection or disagreement of our ideas
[Locke]
|
15995
|
The greatest certainty is knowing our own ideas, and that two ideas are different
[Locke]
|
12543
|
Intuition gives us direct and certain knowledge of what is obvious
[Locke]
|
12544
|
Our knowledge falls short of the extent of our own ideas
[Locke]
|
7840
|
For all we know, an omnipotent being might have enabled material beings to think
[Locke]
|
12545
|
Other spirits may exceed us in knowledge, by knowing the inward constitution of things
[Locke]
|
12546
|
We can't know how primary and secondary qualities connect together
[Locke]
|
15996
|
We can't begin to conceive what would produce some particular experience within our minds
[Locke]
|
12547
|
We know five properties of gold, but cannot use four of them to predict the fifth one
[Locke]
|
15984
|
The corpuscular hypothesis is the best explanation of the necessary connection and co-existence of powers
[Locke]
|
15950
|
We will only understand substance when we know the necessary connections between powers and qualities
[Locke]
|
12548
|
It is certain that injustice requires property, since it is a violation of the right to property
[Locke]
|
12549
|
Nothing is so beautiful to the eye as truth is to the mind
[Locke]
|
12550
|
If we knew the minute mechanics of hemlock, we could predict that it kills men
[Locke]
|
12551
|
We are satisfied that other men have minds, from their words and actions
[Locke]
|
15997
|
We are so far from understanding the workings of natural bodies that it is pointless to even try
[Locke]
|
12552
|
Thoughts moving bodies, and bodies producing thoughts, are equally unknowable
[Locke]
|
15993
|
If we observe total regularity, there must be some unknown law and relationships controlling it
[Locke]
|
12553
|
Some of our ideas contain relations which we cannot conceive to be absent
[Locke]
|
12554
|
Existences can only be known by experience
[Locke]
|
17735
|
Simple ideas are produced in us by external things, and they match their appearances
[Locke]
|
12555
|
The constant link between whiteness and things that produce it is the basis of our knowledge
[Locke]
|
12556
|
Mathematics is just about ideas, so whether circles exist is irrelevant
[Locke]
|
10055
|
Mathematical proofs work, irrespective of whether the objects exist
[Locke]
|
12557
|
Our ideas of substance are based on mental archetypes, but these come from the world
[Locke]
|
12558
|
Truth only belongs to mental or verbal propositions
[Locke]
|
12560
|
We can only slightly know necessary co-existence of qualities, if they are primary
[Locke]
|
12559
|
Complex ideas are collections of qualities we attach to an unknown substratum
[Locke]
|
12561
|
For 'all gold is malleable' to be necessary, it must be part of gold's nominal essence
[Locke]
|
12562
|
General certainty is only found in ideas
[Locke]
|
12563
|
Obviously two bodies cannot be in the same place
[Locke]
|
12564
|
I am as certain of the thing doubting, as I am of the doubt
[Locke]
|
12565
|
God has given us no innate idea of himself
[Locke]
|
12566
|
We exist, so there is Being, which requires eternal being
[Locke]
|
12567
|
It is inconceivable that unthinking matter could produce intelligence
[Locke]
|
12569
|
Knowledge by senses is less certain than that by intuition or reason, but it is still knowledge
[Locke]
|
12568
|
God assures me of the existence of external things
[Locke]
|
12570
|
The finite and dependent should obey the supreme and infinite
[Locke]
|
15977
|
Facts beyond immediate experience are assessed by agreement with known truths and observations
[Locke]
|
12571
|
If miracles aim at producing belief, it is plausible that their events are very unusual
[Locke]
|
12572
|
Many people can reason well, yet can't make a syllogism
[Locke]
|
12573
|
Ad Hominem: press a man with the consequences of his own principle
[Locke]
|
19517
|
Believing without a reason may just be love of your own fantasies
[Locke]
|
12574
|
When two ideas agree in my mind, I cannot refuse to see and know it
[Locke]
|
7718
|
Universals do not exist, but are useful inventions of the mind, involving words or ideas
[Locke]
|