5/1/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 1 Locke – Essay I Charles Manekin

04/18/2304/18/23 Modern Philosophy PHIL320Modern Philosophy PHIL320 11

Locke – Essay ILocke – Essay I

Charles ManekinCharles Manekin


Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Life and WorksLife and Works

GodGod Pre-Established HarmonyPre-Established Harmony ““All’s for the Best in This Best of All All’s for the Best in This Best of All

Possible Worlds”Possible Worlds”


LifeLife

Born 1629 (3 years before Spinoza) Born 1629 (3 years before Spinoza) Entered Christ Church College in 1652; ba in Entered Christ Church College in 1652; ba in

1656, ma in 1658, graduated as a bachelor of 1656, ma in 1658, graduated as a bachelor of medicine only in 1674.medicine only in 1674.

Became attached to Earl of Shaftesbury, later the Became attached to Earl of Shaftesbury, later the Lord Chancellor, in 1666. After 1675, he traveled Lord Chancellor, in 1666. After 1675, he traveled quite a bit. Fled to Hollandquite a bit. Fled to Holland

Returned to England (1689) after the Glorious Returned to England (1689) after the Glorious Revolution Revolution

Serious of government jobs, lived mostly in the Serious of government jobs, lived mostly in the country (Essex) till death in 1704.country (Essex) till death in 1704.


WorksWorks

Two Treatises on Government, much of it Two Treatises on Government, much of it written in 1672, revised and published written in 1672, revised and published after the return to England. It is after the return to England. It is considered to be the founding document considered to be the founding document of modern liberalism and was quite of modern liberalism and was quite influential; parts are cited verbatim in the influential; parts are cited verbatim in the Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence.

Letter Concerning Toleration, written Letter Concerning Toleration, written during Holland stay. during Holland stay.

Essay Concerning Human Understanding Essay Concerning Human Understanding


Setting the Limits of Human Setting the Limits of Human UnderstandingUnderstanding

For I thought that the first Step towards For I thought that the first Step towards satisfying the several Enquiries, the Mind of satisfying the several Enquiries, the Mind of Man was apt to run into, was, to take a Survey Man was apt to run into, was, to take a Survey of our own Understandings, examine our own of our own Understandings, examine our own Powers, and see to what Things they were Powers, and see to what Things they were adapted. Till that was done, I suspected that we adapted. Till that was done, I suspected that we began at the wrong end, and in vain sought for began at the wrong end, and in vain sought for Satisfaction in a quiet and secure Possession of Satisfaction in a quiet and secure Possession of Truths, that most concern'd us whilst we let Truths, that most concern'd us whilst we let loose our Thoughts into the vast Ocean of loose our Thoughts into the vast Ocean of BeingBeing,as if all the boundless Extent, were the ,as if all the boundless Extent, were the natural and undoubted Possessions of our natural and undoubted Possessions of our Understandings, wherein there was nothing that Understandings, wherein there was nothing that escaped its Decisions, or that escaped its escaped its Decisions, or that escaped its Comprehension. Comprehension.



Thus Men, extending their Enquiries beyond Thus Men, extending their Enquiries beyond their Capacities, and letting their their Capacities, and letting their Thoughts wander into those depths Thoughts wander into those depths where they can find no sure Footing; ‘tis where they can find no sure Footing; ‘tis no Wonder, that they raise Questions and no Wonder, that they raise Questions and multiply Disputes, which never coming to multiply Disputes, which never coming to any clear Resolution, are proper to only any clear Resolution, are proper to only continue and increase their Doubts, and continue and increase their Doubts, and to confirm them at last in a perfect to confirm them at last in a perfect Skepticism. Skepticism.



Whereas were the Capacities of our Whereas were the Capacities of our Understanding well considered, the Understanding well considered, the Extent of our Knowledge once Extent of our Knowledge once discovered, and the Horizon found, which discovered, and the Horizon found, which sets the boundary between the sets the boundary between the enlightened and the dark Parts of Things; enlightened and the dark Parts of Things; between what is and what is not between what is and what is not comprehensible by us, Men would comprehensible by us, Men would perhaps with less scruple acquiesce in perhaps with less scruple acquiesce in the avow'd Ignorance of the one; and the avow'd Ignorance of the one; and employ their Thoughts and Discourse, employ their Thoughts and Discourse, with more Advantage and Satisfaction in with more Advantage and Satisfaction in the other.the other.


The Purpose of the EssayThe Purpose of the Essay

This, therefore, being my purpose- to inquire into This, therefore, being my purpose- to inquire into the original, certainty, and extent of human the original, certainty, and extent of human knowledge, together with the grounds and knowledge, together with the grounds and degrees of belief, opinion, and assent;- I shall not degrees of belief, opinion, and assent;- I shall not at present meddle with the physical consideration at present meddle with the physical consideration of the mind; or trouble myself to examine of the mind; or trouble myself to examine wherein its essence consists; or by what motions wherein its essence consists; or by what motions of our spirits or alterations of our bodies we come of our spirits or alterations of our bodies we come to have any sensation by our organs, or any ideas to have any sensation by our organs, or any ideas in our understandings; and whether those ideas in our understandings; and whether those ideas do in their formation, any or all of them, depend do in their formation, any or all of them, depend on matter or not. These are speculations which, on matter or not. These are speculations which, however curious and entertaining, I shall decline, however curious and entertaining, I shall decline, as lying out of my way in the design I am now as lying out of my way in the design I am now upon. upon.


The Task of the EssayThe Task of the Essay

The commonwealth of learning is not at this time The commonwealth of learning is not at this time without master-builders, whose mighty designs, without master-builders, whose mighty designs, in advancing the sciences, will leave lasting in advancing the sciences, will leave lasting monuments to the admiration of posterity: but monuments to the admiration of posterity: but every one must not hope to be a Boyle or a every one must not hope to be a Boyle or a Sydenham; and in an age that produces such Sydenham; and in an age that produces such masters as the great Huygenius and the masters as the great Huygenius and the incomparable Mr. Newton, with some others of incomparable Mr. Newton, with some others of that strain, it is ambition enough to be employed that strain, it is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish that lies little, and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way to knowledgein the way to knowledge


The Character of the EssayThe Character of the Essay

A “Natural History” of the Mind.A “Natural History” of the Mind. A Work on A Work on

• Logic.Logic. The Psychologistic Turn in LogicThe Psychologistic Turn in Logic

• Psychology (but not dealing with Psychology (but not dealing with morality much)morality much)

• EpistemologyEpistemology


Book One – Against Innate IdeasBook One – Against Innate Ideas

Innate ideas: “some primary Innate ideas: “some primary notions...Characters as it were notions...Characters as it were stamped upon the Mind of Man, stamped upon the Mind of Man, which the Soul receives in its very which the Soul receives in its very first Being; and brings into the world first Being; and brings into the world with it.with it.”

No innate speculative principles, moral principles, or innate ideas


No Innate Speculative PrinciplesNo Innate Speculative Principles

“The Whole is Greater than the Part”; “Whatever is, is.” “It is Impossible for the Same thing to Be and Not to Be.”

They are neither immediately perceived.

Nor dispositional – How would we distinguish between innate and newly discovered truths.


No Innate Moral PrinciplesNo Innate Moral Principles

“Repay a gift with gratitude” These principles are not self-evident,

nor are they exempt from the previous objections against innate speculative principles

Even thieves know that they should obey contracts. How do they know this.

Much disagreement on morality.


No Innate IdeasNo Innate Ideas

For Principles to be Innate, their For Principles to be Innate, their Ideas must be Innate.Ideas must be Innate.

Is “Impossibility” Innate? The Is “Impossibility” Innate? The “Whole” or the “Part”?“Whole” or the “Part”?

What about the idea of God?What about the idea of God?

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5/1/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 1 Locke – Essay I Charles Manekin