54 pages • 1 hour read
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
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Themes
The Tabula Rasa Theory
One of Locke’s most significant contributions to the philosophical realm is his support for the concept of tabula rasa. This Latin phrase translates as “clean slate” in English. The term originally described a wax-covered tablet used for writing which was erased by heating and smoothing the wax after use. The tabula rasa theory suggests that the mind is a blank slate at birth; all knowledge comes through experience and sensory perception.
Locke rejected the concept of innate knowledge, first popularized by Greek philosophers during the fourth century. Aristotle, for example, suggested that even a blank tablet contains words and characters that have not yet been written. Innatism suggests that humans are born with certain knowledge. Locke challenges the belief that humans are born knowing certain innate principles, such as the law of identity. This principle suggests that all humans understand that things exist. Another idea considered innate is the existence of God. The foundation of the argument for innate knowledge is the concept of universal consent, the idea that all people in the world agree on these principles. Locke argues that universal consent does not exist. If any persisting theory is examined across the globe, there will always be examples of cultures and individuals who challenge it. For example, babies and small children do not yet understand the nature of existence, and many cultures do not embrace God or religion. Therefore, the argument of universal consent falls short.
Locke’s theory provides an interesting comparison to neuroscience. Because babies are born with the ability to process sensory information, Locke’s theory that humans obtain knowledge through sensory experience seems ahead of its time. In addition, his argument strongly references the debate of nature versus nurture. By advocating for the theory of tabula rasa, Locke clearly supports the nurture argument. If the mind is born a blank sheet of paper, which sensory impressions then fill, only environment can contribute to knowledge. Those who believe in innate knowledge, however, argue that certain qualities and ideas are inherent in the mind regardless of experience.
In addition, the tabula rasa theory provides a notable connotation for creativity. If the mind is blank and ideas are formed only through sensation and reflection, then the mind is not capable of pure creativity. Instead, the mind connects simple ideas to form complex ideas. This idea contributes to many interesting comparisons. For example, 20th-century philosopher Jean Baudrillard proposed the concept of the simulacrum, which proposes that everything is a copy of itself. This seems to suggest that Baudrillard and Locke had similar understandings of knowledge. However, tabula rasa is a philosophical concept rather than a scientific fact.
Empiricism and the Role of Experience
Imagine a newly born baby. This human has yet to step foot in a classroom or even take a step. Locke would argue that this child has an empty mind, a blank slate, waiting to be filled with information through the senses. Empiricism is the epistemological theory that knowledge is born from sensory experience. The theory projects the necessity of observation for obtaining knowledge. Empiricism thus represents the core idea of Locke’s thesis. After establishing the mind as a blank sheet of paper, the philosopher proposes that only through sensory impressions and reflection on those experiences do humans form ideas. Babies and small children are overwhelmed by the onslaught of information revealed to them through the senses. Their brains quickly collect and store, and ideas manifest at a rapid rate. As humans grow older, their brains learn to apply focus and intention to thoughts and develop more complex ideas.
Although Locke promotes sensory experience as the pathway toward knowledge, he applies other concepts to refine his theory. He blends the natural world and scientific reasoning with poetic descriptions of knowledge and divination. His theories about language, for example, mirror the prevailing scientific and religious ideas of his time. Locke starts small—with words, or “particles”—and builds to larger, more complex concepts. He follows the same pattern when considering ideas. Locke believes that all experiences can be broken down into basic parts. Those smaller components contribute to simple ideas, which combine to form complex ideas and a greater understanding of the physical and abstract worlds.
Locke proposes that humans are unique because God has gifted them the ability to experience the world with five, highly tuned senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. Additionally, he suggests the possibility of other senses that have not yet been discovered. Modern understandings of human senses include vestibular, or movement-attuned, senses—the ability to sense movement and balance—and proprioception, the sense of the body in space. Most humans are passive in how they collect information from the senses. Reflection on sensory impressions and perception contributes to patternmaking and the formation of complex ideas.
The Spiritual Nature of Knowledge
Locke’s assertion that innate knowledge does not exist was controversial during his lifetime. Innate knowledge is predicated on the belief that God imparts certain principles to all humankind. One innate principle that Locke denounces early on is the existence of God, regarded by many as an idea that is universally accepted. Locke proposes many cultures do not hold to this law. Because Locke denied innate knowledge, some saw his proposal as a denial of the divinity of man. However, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding emphasizes the spiritual nature of knowledge. Locke’s Protestant beliefs permeate the work, and where the philosopher’s theories fail to logically explain mental phenomena, God easily fills the gaps. Locke credits God with providing the senses themselves, through which humans express ideas, and with instilling pleasure and pain as forms of moral instruction. The exploration of this theme refers only to Locke’s understanding of religion and spirituality.
Locke proposes two avenues by which knowledge is created: sensation and reflection. The former is described fully in the theme Empiricism and the Role of Experience. The second, more mysterious, avenue is reflection. After simple ideas are formed via the senses, reflection on those ideas—either passive or active—further refines concepts and contributes to complexity of thought. Locke describes various modes of thinking that represent the depths of reflection. Discernment and composition are examples of these modes. He attributes the ability to reflect, judge, compose, and abstract to God. Locke argues that God imparts perception to all animals but gifts humans with a sophisticated capability. Perception, Locke explains, is “the first step and degree towards knowledge” (139). Therefore, the philosopher sees his deity as the creator and instigator of all knowledge. Locke frequently refers to a patriarchal “Creator” and that entity’s role in the acquisition of understanding. The philosopher further suggests that God imparts language as the ability to communicate ideas.
Locke’s rejection of innate knowledge and his unique religious beliefs inform his political writing on religious tolerance. He suggests that humans cannot always identify truth or falsehoods, and therefore, making informed decisions about religion is difficult. Because humans’ minds begin as blank, individuals are subject only to their own sensory experiences. Lack of experience may contribute to a failure to embrace Christianity. Additionally, the philosopher argues that humans will not submit to a religion through violence or law, so it is fruitless to impose a religious order. The closest humans come to innate knowledge is the endowment by God of senses and modes of thinking that assist humans in a deeper understanding of the Creator.
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By John Locke
