What do you think?
Rate this book
The Meaning and Function of Simple Modes in the Philosophy of John Locke
Excerpt from The Meaning and Function of Simple Modes in the Philosophy of John Locke
The meaning of the term simple mode in the philosophy of Locke has been felt as a difficulty by all Locke students. Leibniz' made many characteristic suggestions which, if adopted, would involve radical altera tions in the whole Essay; and even in the modern era of sympathetic interpretation the concept has always been considered unsatisfactory. Tagart2 feels this unsatisfactoriness in regard to both simple and mixed modes, but perhaps more especially in the ease of mixed modes. The terms seem to him to be obsolete, a reminiscence of the jargon of the schools from which Locke has not been able wholly to emancipate himself; difficult to understand, and without any corresponding advantage, they are to be regarded as defects in his work. Webb,a on the other hand, emphasises peculiarities of the simple modes only; to him these appear to involve the admission by Locke of an a priori element of thought, a suggestion of intel lect occasioned by an innate impotence of thought, as well as the uni versally recognised creation of modes by the mind in composition. To Webb himself this does not appear unsatisfactory, but as it is emphasised by him as a case of intellectualism, his view is tantamount to a state ment that the simple modes have been seriously misunderstood by all who have not interpreted Locke as an intellectualist  in other words, that they have furnished difficulties too great for almost all writers on Locke up to the time of Webb.
The meaning of the term simple mode in the philosophy of Locke has been felt as a difficulty by all Locke students. Leibniz' made many characteristic suggestions which, if adopted, would involve radical altera tions in the whole Essay; and even in the modern era of sympathetic interpretation the concept has always been considered unsatisfactory. Tagart2 feels this unsatisfactoriness in regard to both simple and mixed modes, but perhaps more especially in the ease of mixed modes. The terms seem to him to be obsolete, a reminiscence of the jargon of the schools from which Locke has not been able wholly to emancipate himself; difficult to understand, and without any corresponding advantage, they are to be regarded as defects in his work. Webb,a on the other hand, emphasises peculiarities of the simple modes only; to him these appear to involve the admission by Locke of an a priori element of thought, a suggestion of intel lect occasioned by an innate impotence of thought, as well as the uni versally recognised creation of modes by the mind in composition. To Webb himself this does not appear unsatisfactory, but as it is emphasised by him as a case of intellectualism, his view is tantamount to a state ment that the simple modes have been seriously misunderstood by all who have not interpreted Locke as an intellectualist  in other words, that they have furnished difficulties too great for almost all writers on Locke up to the time of Webb.
105 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.