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Single Idea 3522

[from 'Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed)' by John Locke, in 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 6. Inverted Qualia ]

Full Idea

By the different structure of our organs the same object could produce in several men's minds different ideas, viz. if the idea that a violet produced in one man's mind by his eyes were the same that a marigold produced in another man's.

Gist of Idea

The same object might produce violet in one mind and marigold in another

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.32.15)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.389


A Reaction

This is Locke's original proposal that inverted qualia might be possible, but note that he proposes a physical basis for the inversion, in 'different structures'. Without that, claiming qualia inversion is the same as claiming that zombies are possible.