David Hume, an 18th century Scott, is often regarded as one of philosophy's most significant contributors, specifically for his role as a British Empiricist among other philosophers such as John Locke and George Berkeley. Empiricism is the philosophical theory that all concepts (impressions and ideas) come from experience. Empiricism is the counter theory to innatism which holds that the mind is not ,what Locke believes to be “blank slate” at birth, but rather, is pre-equipped with certain concepts prior to the sensory experience of them. Some early 17th century innatists include Rene Descartes and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who significantly added on to Plato’s original theory of innatism.
Hume’s first argument in support of Concept Empiricism …show more content…
Others may draw attention to the concept of a unicorn. A majority of people will have not claimed to have ever witnessed an actual unicorn but nearly all of them will be able to come up with a mental representation of a unicorn in their minds. To this Hume rebuttals that while one may be able to come up with the idea of a unicorn without ever seeing one, this is only because the mind is capable of constructing new concepts from prior experience. By this he means while the majority of people will not claim to have seen a unicorn, those people who can come up with a mental representation of a unicron, have indeed seen both a horse and a horn and with assistance from the “creative power of the mind” (Hume EHU 2.5) can combine these to past experiences to construct a new concept in their mind, further justifying that even new concepts come from past experiences. Hume summarizes this argument by stating that all concepts come from the minds “compounding, transposing, augmenting, or diminishing [of] the materials afforded [to] us by the senses and experience.” (Hume EHU 2.5) Hume even addresses the innatists concept of God by saying that “The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise, and good Being, arises from reflecting on the
Hume’s first argument in support of Concept Empiricism …show more content…
Others may draw attention to the concept of a unicorn. A majority of people will have not claimed to have ever witnessed an actual unicorn but nearly all of them will be able to come up with a mental representation of a unicorn in their minds. To this Hume rebuttals that while one may be able to come up with the idea of a unicorn without ever seeing one, this is only because the mind is capable of constructing new concepts from prior experience. By this he means while the majority of people will not claim to have seen a unicorn, those people who can come up with a mental representation of a unicron, have indeed seen both a horse and a horn and with assistance from the “creative power of the mind” (Hume EHU 2.5) can combine these to past experiences to construct a new concept in their mind, further justifying that even new concepts come from past experiences. Hume summarizes this argument by stating that all concepts come from the minds “compounding, transposing, augmenting, or diminishing [of] the materials afforded [to] us by the senses and experience.” (Hume EHU 2.5) Hume even addresses the innatists concept of God by saying that “The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise, and good Being, arises from reflecting on the