innatism

Question 1

argument from Plato

Answer 1

learning is simply recalling innate knowledge. Meno’s slave boy argument

Question 2

argument from Leibniz

Answer 2

contingent and necessary truths. our knowledge of necessary truths are innate

Question 3

Locke’s argument against innatism

Answer 3

no universal consent - there are no examples of propositions or beliefs that are held universally

Question 4

tabula rasa response

Answer 4

Locke argues all knowledge comes from sensations or reflections

Question 5

response to plato’s argument

Answer 5

could argue that slave boy used reason rather than innate knowledge to work out correct answer

Question 6

simple and complex ideas response

Answer 6

all humans can form knowledge from experience incl. complex concept eg. God. simple concepts - looking at a clear sky, sensation of blue gives simple concept of blueness. complex concepts - made up of simple concepts eg. chair, brown, hard, wooden etc. abstract concepts - see a beautiful lake, beautiful painting etc. - form abstract concept of beauty

Question 7

leibniz response to tabula rasa

Answer 7

argues that identity and noncontradiction are innately present - block of marble with veins

Question 8

contingent truth

Answer 8

what IS the case. could’ve been false in some other world. eg. ‘this website exists’

Question 9

necessary truths

Answer 9

what MUST BE the case. true in every possible world. eg. 2+2=4

Question 10

slave boy argument

Answer 10

• Socrates draws a square on the ground that is 2 feet x 2 feet
• Meno’s slave agrees its area is 4 square feet
• Socrates then draws another square on the ground that has an area of 8 square feet
• Socrates then asks: What are the lengths of the sides?
• Meno’s slave incorrectly guesses 4 feet initially (the area would be 16 square feet, not 8)
• But Socrates asks Meno’s slave a series of questions
• Meno’s slave answers the questions correctly and realises that the sides of a square with an area of 8 square feet will be equal to the diagonal of the original 2 feet x 2 feet square