“ An Essay concerning Human Understanding ” is the main philosophical work of John Locke , outlining the system of his empirical epistemology .
| The Experience of Human Understanding | |
|---|---|
| An Essay Concerning Human Understanding | |
 Cover of the first edition of the book | |
| Genre | treatise |
| Author | John Locke |
| Original language | English |
| Date of writing | 1690 |
| Date of first publication | |
The idea of the composition arose at Locke in 1671, and work was done on it for about 20 years. The first “Experience of Human Understanding” was published in 1690 [1] .
Contents
The composition consists of four parts. The first book is devoted to proving that innate ideas and principles do not exist. Describing the different types of ideas (vague and clear, simple and complex) in the second book, Locke builds the theory of the origin of ideas from sensory experience . In the third book, continuing the presentation of his theory of knowledge , Locke writes about the role of language and words, which are sensory signs of ideas. The fourth book talks about what constitutes the process of cognition and what are the boundaries of cognition, it examines the problem of truth and issues of nature and the foundations of faith , or opinions, the foundations of probable knowledge are problematized [1] .
The essay also raises questions of ethics and morality [2] , poses various philosophical questions, for example, the Molyneux problem is described.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 “Experience of Human Understanding” - an article in the New Philosophical Encyclopedia .
- ↑ Apresyan R.G. Ethical issues in the “Experience of Human Understanding” by J. Locke // Historical and Philosophical Yearbook 2006. M.: “Science”, 2006, p. 131-151.
Links
- “Experience of Human Understanding” - article in the New Philosophical Encyclopedia
- The experience of human understanding. Book 1. 1689