ipl-logo

Plato's Theory Of Innate Knowledge

1075 Words5 Pages

Innatism refers to a philosophical belief in innate ideas and knowledge which suggests that one is born with certain ideas and knowledge. This contradicts tabula rasa, an epistemological argument that the mind is a blank state at birth. In the history of philosophy, innatism has been widely discussed between rationalists and empiricist. While rationalists assert that certain ideas and knowledge pre-exist in the mind independently of experience, empiricists claim that all knowledge is gained through one’s experience. However, Plato’s story of a slave boy in Metaphysics and Epistemology, the study of neuron system, and research of infants’ representations of events support the argument of rationalists with convincing evidences; therefore, I agree …show more content…

For example, John Locke is a main antagonist to innatism. According to Yacouba (2016), Locke criticized that Plato’s view of innate knowledge is more religious than rational because Plato asserted that knowledge is a process of remembrance which is already engraved in one’s soul; therefore, Plato’s doctrine of innatism can only be true to those who believe in reincarnation (Yacouba, 2016). This polemic does not seem convincing due to the lack of scientific evidence. On the other hand, the research of neuron system described earlier in the paper support Plato’s view of innatism with scientific evidence. Consequently, Plato’s doctrine that certain knowledge pre-exists in one’s mind at birth seems more reliable. Locke also asserted that humans are blank states at birth. According to him, “All ideas come from sensation or reflection. Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas” (Locke, 1690, p. 96). However, Baillargeon’s research described earlier in the paper showed that infants possess certain knowledge from birth, such as the principle of persistence. Also, Locke’s claim fell into contradiction later in his paper. He said, “Therefore I doubt not but children, by the exercise of their senses about objects that affect them in the womb, receive some few ideas before they are born” (Locke, 1690, p. 134). He previously argued that one is born with tabula rasa mind like empty paper; however, he later acknowledged that children are born with ideas. Therefore, Locke’s claim showed contradiction. Based on the research, rationalists’ view of innatism that people are born with certain knowledge is more

Show More
Related
1232 Words | 5 Pages

This is the idea that the mind is like blank paper without any ideas and is furnished by experience alone. While I don’t believe this is entirely true I think the ideas that stem from it are valuable as it is valuable to an extent. Education as Locke desires is a thing to improve the general capacity of the mind, not stuff it with facts or perfect it at a specific task. We see this concept in Franklin’s writing where he says “Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other” which means that experience is the greatest way to learn, and the way that all can learn, even the fool. The idea that education should be “a formation of character, of habits…of mind and body” (256) is one that should be paid attention to, because in the end one’s whole life is the issue, not just learning individual tasks and

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

Skepticism or Justified True Belief Elizabeth McIver ID: L25662046 PHIL 201 B06 Spring 2018 Abstract How do the Matrix, Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave”, and Descartes’ “Meditation 1 of the Things of Which We May Doubt” compare and contrast to each other? Also, can we truly depend on our senses to aid us in our quest for knowledge?

Read More
1241 Words | 5 Pages

According to Locke,

Read More
768 Words | 4 Pages

Lastly, Locke didn’t believe in material or tangible rewards, instead he believed in setting up punishments and rewards based on the parent’s approval or disapproval. He thought this would have the child either feel they let the parents down or their support. All of the ways Locke believed about educating a child are similar to 20th century behaviorists in which they both believe that a person’s behavior and mind are molded by their environments and also that based on a person’s experiences you can know alot about them. - Aylin

Read More
1010 Words | 5 Pages

John Locke, English philosopher and physician, believed that all things that humans do are shaped solely from nurture. His idea was that people were born blank, like a blackboard, and who they became was a result of their collective experiences. When exploring various topics of humanity, brain activity, and the concept free will, we can observe acts of nature and of nurture. As shown in Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, Shankar Vedantam’s The Hidden Brain, and “Free Will” by Matt Ridley, people are malleable. In life, humans behave like their peers, but have a few natural genetic tendencies.

Read More
298 Words | 2 Pages

For this week's journal entry, I would like to bring up the idea of "wisdom" in reference to Plato's Apology.  Personally, I find that the way in which Socrates defends is wisdom is admirable, and although it leads to the verdict of him being killed, I think that this decision and the reaction by Socrates helps define wisdom. Socrates, in essence, says that he does not fear death because he is wise.  No one knows what death is -- perhaps it may be the best thing a person gets to experience. However, a person that is unwise would approach death into thinking that it is the worst thing that can happen in life.

Read More
1065 Words | 5 Pages

The truth hurts, sometimes more than others, but this piercing two-edged sword is what shapes us into what we become in life; either good people, from learning and speaking truth or bad people from hiding the truth and speaking lies. One instance in my life, where seeing the truthful insight was disturbing, was when I, with the help of my family, saw that it was time to get out of an abusive relationship. It was like any destructive and worldly relationship, where one feels completely enveloped in a fog of that person and their manipulation; I felt like there was nothing outside of my own, self-made cave. I saw the shadows of what I thought were representations of love and trust, but it was only my imagination that took those shadows and

Read More
1181 Words | 5 Pages

Locke argues that humans are not born with any innate knowledge or understanding of

Read More
877 Words | 4 Pages

Understanding is not able to invent or create or even an idea. It merely relate to the most simple ideas fun ways according john Locke. It resembles which the intellect Liability is these simple ideas are the primary materials of our knowledge.” male dominance in this little world of his own knowledge to that exercised in the great world of visible things in which their power rather than employee with art and cunning does not go beyond compose and divide the materials and facts of your hand.” (2003, February 3).

Read More
1240 Words | 5 Pages

According to book I, Neither Principles nor Ideas are Innate, “the origin of mental content and lay out Locke's empiricist account of concept acquisition” (Newman 1). Book II, Of Ideas, illustrates Locke’s opinions on the way humans get their ideas and think. Within the 33 chapters of book II, Locke states that “all ideas come from sensation or reflection” (Locke 87). He is a firm believer that humans are in control of their own thoughts. In book III, Of Words, Locke expresses his perspective on his theory that the words in our brain are not always capable of coming out on their own.

Read More
1227 Words | 5 Pages

These ideas were expressed in his “Tabula Rasa Theory of Human Behavior”. In his writing, Locke says,”Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas—How comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience.”

Read More
924 Words | 4 Pages

In The Republic, Plato writes about his thoughts on good, justice, and how we can achieve it. He starts off by stating that for human happiness and to live the best life philosopher-kings are needed. Not everyone can become a philosopher; certain people simply are non-philosophers also called lovers of sights and sounds. Plato makes the distinction between lovers of wisdom(philosophers) and lovers of sights and sounds clear using beauty as an example. Non-philosophers see ''fine tones and colours and forms and all the artificial products that are made out of them''(476b) but are unable to see or to understand absolute beauty.

Read More
1801 Words | 8 Pages

In contrast, Locke believes, that knowledge can only have a high degree of certainty but cannot be certain. Since he does not focus much on certainty in his works, he believes that perception can play a major part in the process of knowledge. He further reiterates that knowledge is based on observations and senses. According to his him, ideas come from reflection and sensation while knowledge is founded on experience In summary, I have covered the respective positions and views that both Locke and Descartes hold in respect with self-identity and consciousness.

Read More
704 Words | 3 Pages

If so, we can, therefore, assume that all of the knowledge we bear as of now are all obtained from all of our past daily experiences and this idea contrasts the idea of innate knowledge. It is said that innate knowledge is the knowledge we have ever since we were born. Thus, this knowledge will only be discovered if something triggers it. As for example, a

Read More
984 Words | 4 Pages

“Plato’s philosophy is an attempt to justify Socrates’ belief in the objectivity of moral virtues.” As one of Socrates’ most loyal disciples, Plato’s own philosophy was heavily influenced by Socrates’ own thoughts and teachings. Much of Plato’s philosophy is a direct extension of some of the questions Socrates posed, i.e., Socrates asked what justice is, and Plato explored this question in his own writings. It is Socrates’ code of ethics, however, that most closely corresponds with Plato’s ethics.

Read More

More about Plato's Theory Of Innate Knowledge

Open Document