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Single Idea 15971
[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / b. Primary/secondary
]
Full Idea
Such qualities, which are nothing in objects but powers to produce various sensations in us by their primary qualities i.e. by the bulk, figure, texture, and motion of their sensible parts, as colours, sounds, tastes etc. These I call secondary qualities.
Gist of Idea
Secondary qualities are powers of complex primary qualities to produce sensations in us
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.08.10)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.135
A Reaction
Alexander emphasises that secondary qualities are in objects. It is the ideas (here 'sensations') which are in us. This quotation shows that secondary qualities are not identical with 'textures' (which are complex primary qualities), but are 'powers'.
Related Ideas
Idea 15973
In my view Locke's 'textures' are groups of corpuscles which are powers (rather than 'having' powers) [Locke, by Alexander,P]
Idea 15974
The essence of whiteness in a man is nothing but the power to produce the idea of whiteness [Locke]
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[dividing qualities into different types]:
16717
|
Which of the contrary features of a body are basic to it?
[Aristotle]
|
16726
|
Why can't we deduce secondary qualities from primary ones, if they cause them?
[Buridan]
|
16720
|
Secondary qualities come from temperaments and proportions of primary qualities
[Conimbricense]
|
15989
|
Colours, smells and tastes are ideas; the secondary qualities have no colour, smell or taste
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
15971
|
Secondary qualities are powers of complex primary qualities to produce sensations in us
[Locke]
|
12481
|
Hands can report conflicting temperatures, but not conflicting shapes
[Locke]
|
12546
|
We can't know how primary and secondary qualities connect together
[Locke]
|
18264
|
We know the shape of a cone from its concept, but we don't know its colour
[Kant]
|
5453
|
Essentialists mostly accept the primary/secondary qualities distinction
[Ellis]
|
22429
|
We achieve objectivity by dropping secondary qualities, to focus on structural primary qualities
[Nagel]
|
3249
|
Modern science depends on the distinction between primary and secondary qualities
[Nagel]
|
7374
|
Light wavelengths entering the eye are only indirectly related to object colours
[Dennett]
|
22415
|
Relativity means differing secondary perceptions are not real disagreements
[McGinn]
|
22416
|
Phenomenalism is correct for secondary qualities, so scepticism is there impossible
[McGinn]
|
22413
|
Being red simply consists in looking red
[McGinn]
|
22422
|
Maybe all possible sense experience must involve both secondary and primary qualities
[McGinn]
|
22428
|
You understood being red if you know the experience involved; not so with thngs being square
[McGinn]
|
6512
|
Secondary qualities have one sensory mode, but primary qualities can have more
[Robinson,H]
|
7051
|
Objects only have secondary qualities because they have primary qualities
[Heil]
|