Inn

Question 1

Innatism

Answer 1

Rationalist theory that states at least some of our concepts and/or propositional knowledge are within the mind from the moment it exists. However, it may take some experience to ‘uncover’ them.

Question 2

Concept Innatism

Answer 2

believes that at least some concepts are within the mind from the moment it exists.

Question 3

Knowledge innatism

Answer 3

believes that at least some propositional knowledge is contained within the mind from the moment it exists

Question 4

What is the difference between Intuitionism and Innatism?

Answer 4

Intuitionists state that we get knowledge from the moment we get the intuition, however innatists claim that we have knowledge from the moment our mind begins to exist.

Question 5

Plato’s ‘slave boy’ argument

Answer 5

P1: The slave boy has propositional knowledge of a geometrical truth

P2: This knowledge is either based on experience or it is innate.

P3: It cannot be based on experience because it wasn’t taught to the slave boy

MC: Therefore it must be innate

Question 6

Leibniz’s argument for innatism based on necessary truths

Answer 6

P1: I have knowledge of necessary truths - truths that have to be true and couldn’t be false

P2: This knowledge is either based on experience or it is innate.

P3: It cannot be based on experience because all knowledge from experience is of particular contingent truths

MC: Therefore it must be innate

Question 7

necessary truth

Answer 7

a truth that is true in all possible world

Question 8

Descartes’ concept innatism (the concept of GOD is innate)

Answer 8

P1: My ideas either come from our senses, were invented by me or are innate.

P2: My idea of God cannot have come from my senses since it has not come to me unexpectedly like the other ideas from my senses

P3: My idea of God can’t have been invented by me because I can’t add to or take away from the idea as I can with other ideas I have invented.

C1: Therefore the idea of God is innate.