The Empiricists: Locke Ideas and Qualities

1. The Empiricists: Locke Ideas and Qualities Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

2. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

3. Introduction The challenge of empiricism The challenge: giving an empiricist account of the production of our ideas Famous image of the white paper: ideas imprinted through experience • “Natural” but also naïve account of the production of ideas. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

4. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

5. The Origin of Ideas Sensation and Reflection Only two sources of ideas: sensation and reflection Sensation: external sense, sensible qualities of external objects Reflection: internal sense, operations of the mind • Mechanism: active or passive? • Atomism and the passive production of ideas • Attention of the mind and the active production of ideas • Molyneux’s problem • Problematic ambiguity concerning the production of ideas. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

6. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

7. Simple and Complex Ideas Only two kinds of ideas: simple and complex Simple ideas: psychological atoms Complex ideas: combination of simple ideas Note on abstract ideas Necessary condition: experience Argument?: analogy and introspection • Straightforward account consistent with Locke’s commitment to empiricism. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

8. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

9. The Objects of Ideas: Qualities Primary Quality: the power of an object to produce ideas in our minds Two types of quality: primary and secondary Which of our sensations correspond to true properties? • Primary qualities: • characteristics: belong to, are inseparable of, and characteristic of all bodies • list: extension, movement, number, solidity • Produce resemblant ideas • Primary qualities are “real qualities”. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

10. Secondary qualities: • characteristics: exist only in so far as perceived • list: color, heat, smell, taste etc. • Produced by the effect of primary qualities on our organs • Produce non-resemblant ideas The Objects of Ideas: Qualities Secondary • The arguments: • Secondary qualities are relative • Comparison between heat and pain •  No empirical evidence that heat and pain are different kinds of sensation ! • A worry: could not we make the same argument concerning primary qualities? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

11. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

12. Against the Notion of Substance • Text Analysis ! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

13. 1. Introduction Outline 2. The Origin of Ideas 3. Simple and Complex Ideas 4. Qualities 5. Against the notion of Substance 6. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

14. Summing up: Locke’s epistemology • Origin of Ideas: sensation and reflection • Type of Ideas: simple and complex • Object of Ideas: primary and secondary qualities Conclusion • The problems: • Active vs Passive • Primary/ secondary distinction • A common source: Locke’s two notions of ideas • Ideas referring directly to qualities • Ideas referring to mental products • Berkeley will exploit this confusion! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana