“Knowledge is based on innate ideas,” famous philosopher John Locke once said
(Palmer, p76). Knowledge is the key to understanding, using, and creating material objects. Many philosophers thought of material objects in different ways. John Locke categorized material objects into simple ideas and complex ideas. Similarly, Plato categorized material objects into the Simile of the Line. These two philosophers had ideas that cross over, making a clear understanding of the knowledge of matter. Using a piece of matter, a material object for example, like a “T-shirt” will help people understand the knowledge of matter with John Locke’s perspective of simple ideas and complex ideas, along with Plato’s perspective of the Simile of the Line.
I. John Locke’s Perspective
A. Simple Ideas and Complex Ideas When a baby is learning names for material objects, their parent shows them a visual cue and a corresponding word. For example a T-shirt, is a name of a casual top that most people wear. These “simple ideas are those …show more content…
Complex ideas can be a collection of simple ideas, associations of ideas, or ideas that become generalized. An example of a collection of simple ideas will be a “blouse”. A “blouse” is composed of simple ideas like buttons, thread, fabric and etc. When one is associating ideas together, this is when more is either comparing or contrast them. For instance, the size large shirt is larger than the medium size shirt. Another comparison can be the pink dress is similar to the purple dress. Finally, ideas that become generalized are abstractions. An “abstractions are formed when we recognize a certain characteristic that a group of objects has in common” (Palmer, p79). Examples of abstractions are shoes, shirts, pants and accessories, which are all simple ideas. These simple ideas are abstracted in one’s brains as one complex idea, like a clothing
(Palmer, p76). Knowledge is the key to understanding, using, and creating material objects. Many philosophers thought of material objects in different ways. John Locke categorized material objects into simple ideas and complex ideas. Similarly, Plato categorized material objects into the Simile of the Line. These two philosophers had ideas that cross over, making a clear understanding of the knowledge of matter. Using a piece of matter, a material object for example, like a “T-shirt” will help people understand the knowledge of matter with John Locke’s perspective of simple ideas and complex ideas, along with Plato’s perspective of the Simile of the Line.
I. John Locke’s Perspective
A. Simple Ideas and Complex Ideas When a baby is learning names for material objects, their parent shows them a visual cue and a corresponding word. For example a T-shirt, is a name of a casual top that most people wear. These “simple ideas are those …show more content…
Complex ideas can be a collection of simple ideas, associations of ideas, or ideas that become generalized. An example of a collection of simple ideas will be a “blouse”. A “blouse” is composed of simple ideas like buttons, thread, fabric and etc. When one is associating ideas together, this is when more is either comparing or contrast them. For instance, the size large shirt is larger than the medium size shirt. Another comparison can be the pink dress is similar to the purple dress. Finally, ideas that become generalized are abstractions. An “abstractions are formed when we recognize a certain characteristic that a group of objects has in common” (Palmer, p79). Examples of abstractions are shoes, shirts, pants and accessories, which are all simple ideas. These simple ideas are abstracted in one’s brains as one complex idea, like a clothing