Question

“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 has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience . . . . Our observation, employed either about external sensible objects or about the internal operations of our minds perceived and reflected on by ourselves, is that which supplies our understanding with all the materials of thinking.”

John Locke, “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”

What ideas about knowledge does Locke express in this passage?

Answer 1

The key ideas are;

1. Knowledge is acquired through observation and sensation.

2. Reflecting on past experiences can make us knowledgeable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The writer begins by imagining an instance when the mind is void with no ideas and knowledge. He explains that as individuals go through life they acquire experiences which would help them have a better understanding of matters. Observation of external sensible objects which could be found in the environment could provide materials of thinking. Examples are perceiving the scents of flowers, or touching a hot or cold object.

Materials of thinking could also be sourced from the internal operations of our mind. When we think about past experiences, we tend to ponder on when, why, and how things happen. These reflections supply us with knowledge.