back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12550

[from 'Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed)' by John Locke, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / a. Scientific essentialism ]

Full Idea

Did we know the mechanical affections of the particles of rhubarb, hemlock, opium and a man, ...we should be able to tell beforehand that rhubarb will purge, hemlock kill, and opium make a man sleep.

Gist of Idea

If we knew the minute mechanics of hemlock, we could predict that it kills men

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.03.25)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.556


A Reaction

Locke was adamant that we could never know such things, but I take it that we now do know them, and that this is precisely what science aims at. I'm beginning to think that the entire aim of science is to predict nature.