Philosophical Theories of Sensations and Ideas

Locke’s views differed greatly compared to Descartes. In fact, his views were almost completely opposite. Locke was an Empiricist. Empiricists believe that the source of all knowledge can be found through experience. This is obviously the opposite of Descartes, since it says that we must rely on our senses and experiences as sole source of knowledge. Locke believed that when were born, we are a “white paper devoid of all characters”, on which “experience” writes. Exceptions to this statement are children and idiots, because they do not have enough thought in them. Children and idiots do not have the experience to gain knowledge, do not have the brainpower to take in the experience and turn it into knowledge. Locke explains that all ideas come from sensation and reflection. We come by senses like yellow, white, heat, soft, bitter, sweet, and reflect upon them in our minds, then understand them and gain that sense. We also gain ideas from sensations in our minds. To understand an event, we go through perception, doubting, believing, reasoning, willing, and all other types of actings within our minds, reflect upon them and recognize them. Locke says, “The mind furnishes the understanding with ideas of its own perceptions.”

The final philosopher is Berkeley. Like Locke, Berkeley is an Empiricist. Berkeley has his own philosophy, which he calls immaterialism. Berkeley has a rather unique philosophy, which states that nothing exists outside the mind. Everything that a person sees or thinks only exists in his or her mind. Whatever is thought of is an idea in the mind of the person thinking it. He states that nothing can be thought of except ideas in the minds, and anything else is inconceivable. He then further explains that what is inconceivable, cannot exist. Therefore, matter, which by definition is not an idea in the mind, cannot exist. Matter is not said to be an idea, but a material. So since matter is material and not thought of, it cannot exist, implying the fact that only things in the mind exist. Berkeley explains that the earth is not composed of both material and immaterial substances, as many other people have said. The earth is only composed of immaterial substances, or “spirit”. This idea is best termed as idealism. Idealism is the belief that reality is ultimately mental, spiritual or nonmaterial in nature, and all we know is our ideas.

So in conclusion, although both Descartes and Locke have almost exact opposite ideas, they both have certain things in common with Berkeley. Descartes and Berkeley both believe that reality is ultimately mental, and we cannot be certain that substances such as matter actually exist. Locke and Berkeley both agree on the fact that they are both empiricists, and believe that all knowledge can be found through experience. While Descartes believes that senses cannot be trusted, Locke and Berkeley both agree that we must rely on our senses to gain knowledge. While all three philosophers seem to believe in a higher power, Descartes believes that it might be an evil genius putting all his effort into deceiving him, compared to Locke and Berkeley who seem to believe in the supremely good God.