External and internal arguments as evidence of innate ideas
A study of the work of John Locke and Gottfried Lebniz
Abstract
In this paper, we analyse the problem of innate ideas through the binary form of external-internal. An argument is external if it points to an external entity and is based upon it. On the other hand, an argument is internal if it is based on an internal position. The analysis of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and New Essays on Human Understanding presents the respective arguments and examples offered by John Locke and Gottfried Leibniz regarding innate ideas. This position offers a different view of their attitude or initial points, by which they defend their philosophical attitudes. In addition, the paper raises the question of the importance of an argument for a particular claim. If the claim is an external form, each argument offered becomes part of the external claim, and the opposite is true for the internal form. The analysis shows that Locke’s and Leibniz’s arguments cannot be reconciled, precisely because they belong to only one of the given forms (external or internal).
References
Biddle, J. C. (1976). Locke’s Critique of Innate Principles and Toland’s Deism. Journal of the History of Ideas, 37(3), 411-422. doi:10.2307/2708806.
Delez, Ž. (2018). Nabor: Lajbnic i barok. Beograd: Fedon.
Delez, Ž., Parne, K. (2009). Dijalozi. Beograd: Fedon.
Gorham, G. (2002). Descartes on the Innateness of All Ideas. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 355-388.
Greenlee, D. (1972). Locke and the Controversy over Innate Ideas. Journal of the History of Ideas, 33(2), 251-264. doi:10.2307/2708872.
Lajbnic, G. (1995). Novi ogledi o ljudskom razumu. Beograd: BIGZ.
Lamprecht, S. P. (1927). Locke’s Attack Upon Innate Ideas. The Philosophical Review, 36(2), 145-165. doi:10.2307/2178895.
Leibniz, G. (1765). Oeuvres philosophiques latines & françoises de feu Mr. de Leibnitz. Amsterdam; Leipzig: Chez Jean Schreuder.
Leibniz, G. (1980). Izabrani filozofski spisi. Zagreb: ITRO Naprijed.
Locke, J. (1741). An essay concerning human understanding : in four books. London: Printed for C. Hitch ... J. Pemberton ... J. Beecroft ... S. Symon ...
Lok, Dž. (1962). Ogled o ljudskom razumu I-II. Beograd: Kultura.
Rogers, G. A. J. (1979). Locke, Newton, and the Cambridge Platonists on Innate Ideas. Journal of the History of Ideas, 40(2), 191-205. doi:10.2307/2709148.
Savile, A. (1972). Leibniz’s Contribution to the Theory of Innate Ideas. Philosophy, 47(180), 113–124. doi:10.1017/s0031819100040857.
Vanzo, A. (2018). Leibniz on Innate Ideas and Kant on the Origin of the Categories. Archiv Für Geschichte Der Philosophie, 100(1), 19–45. doi:10.1515/agph-2018-0002
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
