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Single Idea 3631

[filed under theme 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 2. Origin of Concepts / c. Nativist concepts ]

Full Idea

How do you know that there is no idea of colour in a man born blind?

Gist of Idea

A blind man may still contain the idea of colour

Source

René Descartes (Reply to Fifth Objections [1641], 363)

Book Ref

Descartes,René: 'Meditations on First Philosophy etc.', ed/tr. Cottingham,John [CUP 1986], p.79

Related Idea

Idea 22168 Minds take in a likeness of things, which activates an awaiting potential [Aquinas]

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The 5 ideas from 'Reply to Fifth Objections'

3626	Knowing the attributes is enough to reveal a substance [Descartes]

3630	Our thinking about external things doesn't disprove the existence of innate ideas [Descartes]

3631	A blind man may still contain the idea of colour [Descartes]

3640	Possible existence is a perfection in the idea of a triangle [Descartes]

3639	Necessary existence is a property which is uniquely part of God's essence [Descartes]