Theory of ideas

Running head : THEORY OF IDEAS IN EMPIRICISM AND RATIONALISM

The Epistemological Basis for the 'Theory of Ideas ' in Both Empiricism and Rationalism Your name

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Epistemology is "the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge , its presuppositions and foundations , and its extent and validity "Epistemology , 2009 . The Epistemological basis for the 'theory of ideas ' is different between empiricism and rationalism Empiricism claims that knowledge cannot be gained without experience

any other method that can generate ideas is not acceptable . Rationalism claims that some of the human knowledge is innate and it also "uses formal logic and mathematics to construct human knowledge by `pure reasoning "Epistemology , 2009

This essay will provide a brief comparison between the views of empiricism and rationalism regarding the 'theory of idea . The essay will talk specifically about Descartes ' view of the theory of ideas (the Empiricist view , and John Locke 's view of the theory of ideas (the Rationalist view

The View of the Theory of Ideas in Empiricism

John Locke

All of the human knowledge is generated by experience . Also , the human knowledge "is built from ideas . Knowledge is like a house , and ideas are like the building materials . The structure of knowledge is affected by the nature of ideas "Understanding , 2009

Locke claims that there are 2 main sources of ideas

1 "Sensation : This is what the human senses receive from the external world . The ideas here...