In “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” John Locke, assert that empiricism is the right way to view the world. Empiricism is the doctrine that knowledge comes from sensory experience. In the paragraphs that follow I plan on explaining why I agree with Locke’s position on Knowledge. In order to discuss my opinion, I must first discuss what John Locke’s empiricism is. In Book II of “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” Locke defines the word idea. The definition he provides of idea is “the object of thinking” (Locke 279). The examples he gives of ideas are the words used to express them such as, “whiteness, hardness, sweetness, thinking, motion, man, elephant, army, drunkenness, and others” (Locke 279). Locke’s uses the definition and examples of idea, to begin setting the framework for his definition of empiricism. In addition, to using the definition of idea to lay the ground work he also explains how ideas enter the mind. According to Locke “All Ideas come from Sensation or Reflection” (Locke 279). Meaning that all ideas come from observations made with the use of our senses or when there is a reflection within ourselves on the perceptions of external objects. Just like that John Locke has expressed his empiricism.
Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters without any ideas… Whence come it
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This claim highlight Locke’s definition of empiricism that the man won’t know what the milk tastes like until he makes an observation from his sense of taste. The man will forever remain in a blank paper state until he experiences for himself the taste of silk milk. Every day brings new experiences, whether good or bad, they come. Through these experiences we learn sometimes simple things through sensory experiences such as the warmth or the cold you feels when they hold another’s hand, or the sweet, nutty taste of almond