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There is a contrast between John Locke’s and Rene Descartes’ conception of ideas and similarities between a view on the enlightenment of two thinkers Baron de La Brede Et De Montesquieu and Immanuel Kant. Locke’s thesis is that all ideas originate from only two sources sensation (derived from external sensible objects) and reflexion (which is the internal operations of our minds) (313-314). This thesis is the direct opposite of Descartes’ innate (natural) ideas. Descartes was looking for how can the individual consciousness come to know itself, its God, and its world. The question is how he should have proceeded in replacing old theories with new ones. He found his answer by analogy with how old parts of cities are replaced with the new. The more elegant cities are those, which are methodically built from scratch, not those that continually renovate old sections (287). Locke was interested better in the meaning and origin of ideas, sensation, reflection, perception, retention, infinity and power. Simple ideas can be combined to form more complex ideas, which are derived from the senses to form more complex ideas. Reflection of the mind from the senses may be in form of simple ideas or complex ideas. Simple ideas are derived from the senses and may be combined to form more complex ideas. There is a hierarchy of ideas developed that begins with one simple idea, (e.g. 'bitter', 'yellow', 'cold') and this idea can be combined with others to form complex compound of ideas. Judgment, retention, contemplation, and memory could affect and modify the ideas, but the original unit of all knowledge is the simple idea received through sensation or reflection (313).
Approximate Word count = 1006
Approximate Pages = 4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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