Human Understanding

Question 1

What is Empiricism?

Answer 1

• Experiencing something through senses is the predominant focus of expanding knowledge
• Our knowledge of nature depends upon our observations of natural phenomena

Question 2

What is inductive thought?

Answer 2

Observing something and forming a conclusion based on what is observed

Question 3

Francis Bacon

Answer 3

Proficience of Learning 1605

Question 4

What was the impact of Francis Bacon’s publication on other aspects of scepticism

Answer 4

A noticeable change in acceptance of evidence from shortly before to afterwards

• Lord Chief Justice Sir Edmund Anderson (1602), he was willing to suspend normal ‘proofs’ and convict on ‘presumptions’
• Heneage Finch, a leading legal figure, oversaw a trial in 1620s where the Justice of the Peace, rather than convicting on conscience they convicted on ‘hard’ evidence- the Devil’s Mark
• Suggests there was a slight change in attitudes towards requirements to find a witch guilty across all levels of the judiciary system

Question 5

What is Materialism?

Answer 5

• Everything is created by matter and that all observed events are the result of matter acting on matter.
• Concepts such as the soul and existence of witchcraft could be questioned.

Question 6

What is Deductive thought?

Answer 6

• Application of existing rules
• Testing of prepositions
• Use of preconceived theories with facts collected to prove theory.

Question 7

What was the impact of Thomas Hobbes’ publications on other aspects of scepticism?

Answer 7

An increasing number of judges and jurors aware of the logic and rationality behind ideas from people like Hobbes

• Joan Buts, Surrey 1682 was found innocent as the jury found it difficult to prove. The presiding judge, Matthew Hale, purposefully left out evidence (a significant amount of spectral evidence) so that the jurors would led by their heart
• Indicates that the spread of ideas was increasing and affecting even more levels of the judiciary
• Reveals that public attitudes towards spectral evidence was significant, if Hale was concerned about how it might affect the decision

Question 8

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 8

1655 De Corpore

1658 De Homine

Question 9

John Locke

Answer 9

Essay Concerning Human Understanding 1690