Epistemology: 4. Lock's Tabula Rasa Theory Flashcards
What is the primary difference between Empiricism and Rationalism?
Empiricism emphasizes knowledge through sensory experience, while Rationalism emphasizes knowledge through reason and innate ideas.
What does Locke mean by ‘Tabula Rasa’?
The mind at birth is like a blank slate, waiting to be written on by the world of experience.
According to Locke, what are the three claims that define innate knowledge?
- Innate knowledge must have existed from birth.
- Innate knowledge must be universal.
- Innate knowledge must be something we are or have been conscious of.
What is Locke’s stance on the existence of innate knowledge?
Locke argues that there can be no innate knowledge.
Fill in the blank: For an idea to be part of the mind, Locke says the mind must know or be _______.
conscious of it.
What conclusion does Locke reach regarding children and ‘idiots’ in relation to innate knowledge?
Children and ‘idiots’ do not know certain truths, thus these claims cannot be innate.
True or False: Locke believes that innate knowledge is universally accepted.
False.
What definition of innate knowledge does Locke reject based on the capacity for knowledge?
Locke rejects the idea that the capacity for knowledge is knowledge itself.
What is one reason Locke provides for rejecting the definition that innate knowledge is self-evident?
‘Self-evident’ truths may rely on sense experience.
What is the conclusion Locke draws regarding definitions of innate knowledge?
There is no satisfactory definition of ‘innate’ that can defend the claim that there is innate knowledge.
According to Locke, innate knowledge must be _______.
universal.
What does Locke mean by ‘thoughts printed on the soul’?
He refers to the idea of innate knowledge existing from birth.
Fill in the blank: Locke concludes that there is _______ innate knowledge.
no.
Why does Locke argue that innate knowledge cannot be gained after the use of reason?
Because one cannot distinguish between innate knowledge and knowledge gained from experience.
What is the implication of Locke’s argument for the understanding of knowledge?
Knowledge is derived from experience rather than being innate.
