"But if the Soul was like a Tabula Rasa, or a fair Sheet of Paper, (as Mr L -- says) it would be no more capable of having Knowledge of any kind excited in it, than a Sheet of Paper can have Knowledge excited in it."
— Anonymous
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for G. Strahan
Date
1742
Metaphor
"But if the Soul was like a Tabula Rasa, or a fair Sheet of Paper, (as Mr L -- says) it would be no more capable of having Knowledge of any kind excited in it, than a Sheet of Paper can have Knowledge excited in it."
Metaphor in Context
But Mr J--k--n tells us, "That the Soul is like a Tabula Rasa, not written upon, but capable of receiving Characters."
All outward, sensual worldly, and perishing Knowledge may be excited, or raised up in the Soul, by Sensation and Reflection. But if the Soul was like a Tabula Rasa, or a fair Sheet of Paper, (as Mr L -- says) it would be no more capable of having Knowledge of any kind excited in it, than a Sheet of Paper can have Knowledge excited in it: No! it is from the Soul's being naturally of a rational and knowing Nature, or from the Soul's natural Power of reflecting, in a rational Way, upon the Ideas received by the Senses, that the Soul has outward Knowledge excited and opened in it: But then such a Power or reflecting, in a rational way, upon sensible Ideas, and of growing in Truth and Knowledge, (which Power Brutes have not) can no more be conceived to exist without Reason or Ideas, than a material Being or Faculty can be conceived to exist without Matter. Nor can I see how any Man that acts under the Influence of Conscience, can believe, or affirm the contrary.
(p. 34)
All outward, sensual worldly, and perishing Knowledge may be excited, or raised up in the Soul, by Sensation and Reflection. But if the Soul was like a Tabula Rasa, or a fair Sheet of Paper, (as Mr L -- says) it would be no more capable of having Knowledge of any kind excited in it, than a Sheet of Paper can have Knowledge excited in it: No! it is from the Soul's being naturally of a rational and knowing Nature, or from the Soul's natural Power of reflecting, in a rational Way, upon the Ideas received by the Senses, that the Soul has outward Knowledge excited and opened in it: But then such a Power or reflecting, in a rational way, upon sensible Ideas, and of growing in Truth and Knowledge, (which Power Brutes have not) can no more be conceived to exist without Reason or Ideas, than a material Being or Faculty can be conceived to exist without Matter. Nor can I see how any Man that acts under the Influence of Conscience, can believe, or affirm the contrary.
(p. 34)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
A Dissertation on Deistical and Arian Corruption: or, Plain Proof, That the Principles and Practices of Arians and Deists Are Founded Upon Spiritual Blindness, and Resolve Into Atheism; ... Where Mr Jack--N's Dissertation on Matter and Spirit, Mr. Locke's Essay, &c. Are Particularly Examined, &c. (London: Printed for G. Strahan, 1742).
Theme
Blank Slate; Lockean Philosophy
Date of Entry
10/10/2006
