The argument of empiricism versus rationalism, in other words one can draw on the thoughts and theories of Locke in opposition to the beliefs of Descartes. The argument between empiricism and rationalism can be broken down to the simple form of Locke's imperialism being that all knowledge derives from the senses, against Descartes" belief that information can be known in advance of experience through innate ideas. Locke is considered to be the founder of British empiricism, while Descartes is considered to be the father of modern philosophy. They both have two distinct epistemic syste...

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• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

John Locke, a pre-eminent philosopher of the 17th century agrees in that he claims that the vehicle of the power to produce ideas in us is nothing but the primary qualities of the object which has the power. ... He insisted that the first task for the philosopher is to rid himself of all prejudice by calling in doubt all that can be doubted. ... The second task of the philosopher according to Descartes, having now raised these doubts, is to prevent them from leading to skepticism. ...

• Word Count: 2636
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• Grade Level: High School

Plato vs. Augustine on the Nature of Humanity Humans have struggled throughout the centuries with the complexity and ambiguity of our humanity. The question of who or what we are as humans is difficult one and does not have an easy answer. Our first understanding of humanity is based within ...

• Word Count: 2720
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Berkeley's Theory of Immaterialism As man progressed through the various stages of evolution, it is assumed that at a certain point he began to ponder the world around him. Of course, these first attempts fell short of being scholarly, probably consisting of a few grunts and snorts at be...

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Examine the distinction which Locke draws (or attempts to draw) between primary' and secondary' qualities. On what grounds does Berkeley object to this distinction? Are his objections sound? Locke's distinction between primary and secondary qualities forms a significant part of his theory of representative realism. This theory can be seen as a correction (rather than an analysis) of the general, unconsidered views of the average person which can be categorised as nave realism. ...

• Word Count: 2597
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Hume "I was from the beginning scandalised, I must own, with this resemblance between the Deity and human creatures." --Philo David Hume wrote much about the subject of religion, much of it negative. In this paper we shall attempt to follow Hume's arguments against Deism as Someone knowable from the...

• Word Count: 4391
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• Has Bibliography