Table of Contents

Definition of innate ideas

Descartes views on the inborn ideas of human nature

Locke’s views on human nature and innate ideas

Comparative analysis of Descartes’ and Locke’s philosophy on inborn ideas

To sum up

Over the years, philosophers have evaluated and written on many topics in philosophy. Sometimes, they agree with one another’s ideas. Two distinct ideas were held by two scholars about where and how innate ideas are derived. Notably, Rene Descartes was opposed to John Locke’s view on the origins of innate concepts (Brandhorst p. 56). Descartes found his views in Meditations of First Philosophy. Locke found his position in An Essay Concerning human Understanding. This paper will compare and contrast the theories of these two authors regarding inborn ideas. The paper examines the similarities and differences between Locke’s and Descartes’ philosophies.

Definition of innate ideas. These ideas are supposedly inborn, not learned from experience. Innate ideas are ideas that can be attributed to some things, such as God, infinity and substance. This is because they have no proven experimental origin. Descartes was the pioneer of the idea of innate and natural ideas. Descartes and others focused on the theory regarding innate ideas, which were created by God in childbirth. Descartes stated the belief that God is real, which was beyond the scientific and common sense standards. Descartes proposed that everyone is born with information about God through their faith and beliefs (Brandhorst (2010), p. 44). Despite the fact there is variation between people due to cultural, economic and social factors, innate beliefs are believed to have significant effects on human life.

Descartes’ epistemology was based on his belief that all people are born with inborn ideas. Descartes begins his argument by stating that we only know that our minds exist. He claims our thoughts can only be right, but not our judgments. Meditation 3:22 is Descartes’s proof of God’s existence. Descartes states that all effects are greater than their cause. Descartes already understands God and is convinced that God is all-perfect. Descartes isn’t perfect. Descartes is not perfect. The idea of God cannot also be wrong, because ideas can’t be mistaken.

Rene Descartes is a mathematician. He was also a brilliant person. His theory was based on the idea of God. Descartes is also able to oppose ideas and get at God’s thoughts. He wonders about the origin of innate ideas. Descartes concludes by saying that two things are necessary. The first is the fact that nothing can be created from anything. He recognizes that God can only be described as a perfect being. Therefore, to arrive at the conclusion that God exists, it is necessary to consider certain thoughts. Descartes must ask himself, “Where do thoughts come from?” Descartes concludes that ideas don’t come from imagination because the world is made up of material objects and perfection doesn’t exist. Descartes further demonstrates that God cannot even be imagined, since no one is able to make the world as perfect and God-like. In this instance, he says that God was not created by him, but that the idea was already engraved in his brain.

Locke’s view about innate human ideas. Locke was among those who disagreed with this theory. He argued that all knowledge is based on experience and not as defined by Descartes. John Locke argues against inborn ideas by using various arguments in his book “An essay Concerning Human Understanding”. The pragmatists believed that true knowledge was gained through experience. Descartes, for instance, believed that information and ideas were present at birth (Locke & Yolton 1974, p. 78). John Locke believed, unlike Descartes that knowledge comes from life experiences.

Locke’s initial argument to Descartes claims is that there are no universal assent. Locke argues in this instance that for there be innate thoughts, it would make sense that everyone around the globe agrees on the idea. He stated that there is no universal thought and that there are no universal ideas. His second proposition states that children have no common ideas.

Comparative study of Locke philosophy and Descartes philosophy about innate ideas Descartes tries to discover the basic principle that leads to the belief in God. Locke on the contrary, asserts that ideas are obtained through sensation, direct experience of the external world, and reflection to generate new thoughts.

Locke believes there is no innate knowledge and he argues this on the basis of two arguments. Locke claims there are no innate thoughts since children would be able to know if they were. (Newman 2009, p.73). Locke clarifies, too, that if any thought or idea is innate then it is also innate. The thought of God is not innate, however, as there is no universal belief about God’s existence. Locke makes it clear that the brain does not contain innate thoughts. Instead, the brain is made up of a blank sheet of paper devoid all characters and lacking any ideas. Human brains learn new things and knowledge only through experience.

Descartes claimed that innate thoughts are existence. His idea was based on the belief that human beings perceive God as real. Locke, on the other hand, claims that human beings do not have all the information they need to be successful. Locke’s conviction is that ideas are formed from the experiences of individuals and not by imagining responses. Locke believes that knowledge can be gained and shared through experience. This is a part of the human development process.

John Locke doesn’t agree with Descartes’ view that knowledge is innate, contrary to his. Locke believes knowledge that can be equated to a substantial degree is more valuable than knowledge that is based only on perception. Locke explains how ideas depend heavily on perception and reflection in his book, “Essay Concerning Personal Understanding.” Yolton & Locke, 1974, p. 87. Even more important, he states that ideas are created through observation and reflection. Knowledge is therefore based on experience.

There are similarities between Descartes’ and Locke’s philosophies, despite their differences. There are many examples where both authors can agree, as shown by multiple sources. Locke’s “Essay Concerning Personal Understanding” is not intended to contradict Descartes’ assertions about innate thoughts. It is rather a record on epistemology that Locke benefited from his reading of Descartes. Here, there is a significant similarity. Locke was influenced by Descartes’ thoughts and criticisms. He also adopted many of Descartes’ terminologies.

Locke’s notion of the concept is one example where Descartes was used. Locke defines an “idea” as something the brain sees in its own right or as the object that is quick to perceive, think, and comprehend. This is how Descartes defines an idea. Descartes describes idea as any thing that can be quickly perceived by the mind.

Conclusion. The paper examined the similarities and differences in Descartes’ and Locke’s philosophies, primarily based on the inherent ideas of human nature. Locke is citing Descartes work in many ways. He also opposes some ideas at one point. Locke, particularly, disagrees with Descartes on the origins and nature of inborn ideas. This is why the authors provide different philosophical answers. Descartes philosophy is my favorite philosophy, even though they may have different philosophies. Because everything that happens is dependent upon God, the creator and sustainer of the world. Everything that exists is and will happen can eventually be reduced to brain function and substance. Descartes claimed that God’s will is above human understanding.