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Single Idea 12991
[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / a. Innate knowledge
]
Full Idea
I have sometimes been amazed that children can learn languages so early, ...considering how little trouble is taken to instruct children in their native tongue, and how little thought adults give to getting sharp definitions.
Gist of Idea
Children learn language fast, with little instruction and few definitions
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 3.10)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.341
A Reaction
A striking anticipation of the key observation on which Chomsky built his theories, from a philosopher who was equally concerned to defend innate ideas and innate knowledge.
The
16 ideas
with the same theme
[knowledge that arise from within the mind]:
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5052
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When Gentiles follow the law, they must have the law written in their hearts
[Paul]
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22169
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Initial universal truths are present within us as potential, to be drawn out by reason
[Aquinas]
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3630
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Our thinking about external things doesn't disprove the existence of innate ideas
[Descartes]
|
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24022
|
Our souls possess divine seeds of knowledge, which can bear spontaneous fruit
[Descartes]
|
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7570
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Innate ideas are trivial (if they are just potentials) or absurd (if they claim infants know a lot)
[Locke, by Jolley]
|
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12472
|
If the only test of innateness is knowing, then all of our knowledge is innate
[Locke]
|
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7709
|
A proposition can't be in the mind if we aren't conscious of it
[Locke]
|
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4018
|
Innate ideas were followed up with innate doctrines, which stopped reasoning and made social control possible
[Locke]
|
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12929
|
All of our thoughts come from within the soul, and not from the senses
[Leibniz]
|
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12933
|
Arithmetic and geometry are implicitly innate, awaiting revelation
[Leibniz]
|
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12991
|
Children learn language fast, with little instruction and few definitions
[Leibniz]
|
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21081
|
We are equipped with the a priori intuitions needed for the concept of right
[Kant]
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14774
|
Innate truths are very uncertain and full of error, so they certainly have exceptions
[Peirce]
|
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2990
|
Contrary to commonsense, most of what is in the mind seems to be unlearned
[Fodor]
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3008
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Evolution suggests that innate knowledge of human psychology would be beneficial
[Fodor]
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3009
|
Sticklebacks have an innate idea that red things are rivals
[Fodor]
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