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--- philosophy:reading2 [2007/03/03 23:15] – cedwards
+++ philosophy:reading2 [2007/03/06 22:14] (current) – cedwards
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 **Gilson, Etienne. A History of Philosophy - Modern Philosophy - Descartes to Kant pp. 191-219 **
-Notes:
 John Locke's //An Essay Concerning Human Understanding// inspired Leibniz to write a 500 page essay parelleling the same topics. His //Two Treatises of Civil Government// inspired Whig Republicans in English and American politics for a century. He was not a professional philosopher, he was trained as a physician, but worked as secretary.
 The //Essay Concerning Human Understanding// was brought about by the Glorious Revolution, the successful opposition by protestants against the Catholic party of King James II.  In addition, the conception of God was rejected.
-Locke writes in a way that does not presume to supply the answers to all of the problems of the universe and goes so far to state that human understanding has its limitations.  He argues that there are no universal innate ideas, but a readiness to accept these ideas when they present themselves.
+Locke writes in a way that does not presume to supply the answers to all of the problems of the universe and goes so far to state that human understanding has its limitations.  He argues that there are no universal innate ideas, but a readiness to accept these ideas when they present themselves. He says an idea that is **determinate** is one that is present, definite, and primary.  **Determined** applies to complex ideas.  These ideas are constructed by thought processes within ourselves.
-An idea that is **determinate** is one that is present, definite, and primary.  **Determined** applies to complex ideas.  These ideas are constructed by thought processes within ourselves.
 Locke tries to show that what we know comes from experience rather than innate knowledge.  He calls  experience "our observation, employed either about external sense objects, or about the internal operations of our minds, perceived and reflected on by ourselves." He says that sensation alone is not the source of experience, but we must also use reflection, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them."
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 Each simple idea has one uniform appearance, not distinguishable into parts.  Atoms of consciousness.  This is the basis for the construction of determined ideas.
-He describes 4 simple types of ideas:
+He describes four simple types of ideas:
   - Discrete sense data.
   - Discrete reflections on the operation of the mind.