"Vain therefore, and entirely to be rejected, is that Principle published to the World, by a celebrated Philosopher of the last Century, namely, that the Soul in its first created State, has nothing in it, but is a mere Rasa Tabula, or blank Paper."
— Law, William (1686-1761)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Robertson and Roberts
Date
1769
Metaphor
"Vain therefore, and entirely to be rejected, is that Principle published to the World, by a celebrated Philosopher of the last Century, namely, that the Soul in its first created State, has nothing in it, but is a mere Rasa Tabula, or blank Paper."
Metaphor in Context
Vain therefore, and entirely to be rejected, is that Principle published to the World, by a celebrated Philosopher of the last Century, namely, that the Soul in its first created State, has nothing in it, but is a mere Rasa Tabula, or blank Paper. A Fiction, that is contra- [end page 100] dicted by all that we know of every created Thing in Nature.
For every Creature of this World, animate or inanimate, is in its Degree, a Microcosm of all the Powers, that are in the great World, of which it is a Part. And every Thing, or Creature is That, which it is, because the Powers of this World, or Properties of Nature, are in such, or such a Combination included, or treasured up in its Essence, and give it its Difference from other Things. --But nothing through all this Universe has in its Essence, only the Nature of a Rasa Tabula, or blank paper, but is in its kind, full of Riches, and Powers of all outward Nature.
(pp. 100-1)
For every Creature of this World, animate or inanimate, is in its Degree, a Microcosm of all the Powers, that are in the great World, of which it is a Part. And every Thing, or Creature is That, which it is, because the Powers of this World, or Properties of Nature, are in such, or such a Combination included, or treasured up in its Essence, and give it its Difference from other Things. --But nothing through all this Universe has in its Essence, only the Nature of a Rasa Tabula, or blank paper, but is in its kind, full of Riches, and Powers of all outward Nature.
(pp. 100-1)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
Law, William. The works of the Reverend William Law, A.M. In nine volumes. Vol. 8. London, 1762 [1780?]. 9 vols. Based on information from English Short Title Catalogue. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale Group.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO
Theme
Blank Slate; Lockean Philosophy
Date of Entry
10/13/2006
