'I must apply my self to Experience; as far as that reaches, I may have certain Knowledge, but no farther.'
In An Essay concerning Human Understanding, John Locke sets out his theory of knowledge and how we acquire it. Eschewing doctrines of innate principles and ideas, Locke shows how all our ideas, even the most abstract and complex, are grounded in human experience and attained by sensation of external things or reflection upon our own mental activities. A thorough examination of the communication of ideas through language and the conventions of taking words as signs of ideas paves the
way for his penetrating critique of the limitations of ideas and the extent of our knowledge of ourselves, the world, God, and morals.
Locke's masterpiece laid the foundation of British empiricism and is of enduring interest to anyone exploring the development of philosophical thought. This sensitive abridgement uses P. H. Nidditch's authoritative text, and together with an illuminating introduction and other features, makes Locke's arguments more accessible.
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Medlemsvurdering:
Denne boken tar for seg mennesker og deres forståelse og søken om kunnskap, som man kanskje skjønner av tittelen. John Locke hadde åpenbart dannet seg mange tanker rundt emnet, og mange av dem er svært tankevekkende.
Gjennom mange gode argumenter, fremmer Locke sine tanker og meninger rundt temaet, og disse tankene viser seg å være svært så interessante. Boken kan være noe tunglest, noe som gjør at man bør lese den under fullstending konsentrasjon, men det gjør den intet mindre fasinerende.
Alle som liker empirismens filosofi, vil få noe ut av denne boken. Det er mange gode idèer og tanker i boken, som også vil få leseren til å tenke i ettertid. Anbefales på det sterkeste!
