more from John Locke

Single Idea 15973

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / d. Secondary qualities]

Full Idea

I take the unorthodox view that Locke uses the word 'texture' for the pattern of corpuscles in a group and regards the power of a body to affect our senses or another body as identical with this textures, so that powers are intrinsic properties of bodies.

Gist of Idea

In my view Locke's 'textures' are groups of corpuscles which are powers (rather than 'having' powers)

Source

report of John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694]) by Peter Alexander - Ideas, Qualities and Corpuscles 5.2

Book Reference

Alexander,Peter: 'Ideas, Qualities and Corpuscles' [CUP 1985], p.121


A Reaction

The disagreement is whether the textures 'have' the powers (the orthodox view), or whether they 'are' the powers (Alexander's view). To counter Idea 15971, Alexander quotes Idea 15974. He says 'a secondary quality is a texture' (121).

Related Ideas

Idea 15971 Secondary qualities are powers of complex primary qualities to produce sensations in us [Locke]

Idea 15974 The essence of whiteness in a man is nothing but the power to produce the idea of whiteness [Locke]