A Brief Summary of Locke’s Empiricism. Thought, the Relation of Knowledge to Experience, and Locke’s Theory of Ideas.
Philosophy has always been interested in the theme of knowledge. According to empiricism , knowledge is based exclusively on experience . This philosophical direction was born in England during the seventeenth century .
There are several scholars who shared his assumptions. Among these, John Locke , an English physician and philosopher, stands out in particular, considered the founding father of empiricism . Let us now see the fundamental aspects that characterize John Locke ‘s empiricism .
The relationship between knowledge and experience
In his famous “ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding ” of 1690, Locke describes how knowledge is determined by experience , describing the human mind as a sort of empty vessel that is gradually filled thanks to the learning process.
Man acquires his first notions and ideas from birth, through the senses. Later, as he grows, man knows the world by experiencing it directly. Therefore, there are no innate ideas, principles and knowledge in the human mind.
The classification of ideas
Ideas, which are acquired by the individual, are divided into simple ideas , mostly acquired passively by the mind, and complex ideas that man makes his own through not only experience but also through reasoning and reflection.
These processes, however, are also guided and determined by experience. At the basis of cognitive processes, Locke indicates that both reflection and “sensation” are essential.
The Conformity Between Ideas and Reality
According to the British philosopher, true knowledge exists only when ideas conform to reality. Locke’s empiricism, in fact, indicates knowledge as ” perception of agreement or disagreement ” between the ideas acquired by the individual.
Thus, two different degrees of knowledge can be distinguished, depending on whether it is based on intuition or on evidence and demonstrations.
In the process of knowledge, however, one cannot always have direct experience of ideas, events, phenomena and objects. When direct knowledge is not possible, knowledge is not certain but “probable”.
Locke’s position
Locke’s position is particularly critical of that of Descartes , who argued that knowledge and ideas were present in the human mind innately, even before birth (innatism).
For Locke this was simply impossible and to testify the impossibility of this thesis there were children and madmen. These clearly demonstrated how there could not be a universal knowledge innate in every individual, but how this was gradually formed during the course of life on the basis of the peculiar experiences lived.
