PHL201H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ostensive Definition, Human Nature
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
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PHL205 Lecture 3: Augustine on Early Childhood
Platonism does not mean that we discount the realm of material objects
- The material world is good, there must be goodness in it because if there isn’t how
could they lose goodness and become corrupt
Early Childhood: Puzzling Philosophical Aspects
Augustine’s Cradle Argument
Philosophers believe that early childhood is important because it explains how we
behave. Looking at human nature is easiest in childhood (Cicero). Cicero also argues
that it is a human need to move, that being inactive is unnatural.
A. Childhood and Sin
Augustine believes that human beings are naturally sinful and that this can be seen in
children. He says that even small kids commit sins. Human nature is thus not innocent
Objection: This is ridiculous! You cannot rebuke children for their actions.
Response: Just because we do not rebuke infants does not mean that we do not
consider their behaviour as bad. We don’t do so because in
Augustine does not believe that human beings are naturally evil but that in this position,
under original sin, are evil.
B. How do we acquire language?
He learns a language because he sees people making gestures and uttering words.
You learn words because people motion to things and give them names.
Problems with this view on language learning.
1. Mistaken understanding of words and sentences
In this picture of language every word has a meaning. This meaning is correlated
with the world, it is the object for which the word stands. But it is not the case that all
words signify things. For example, what does the word if signify, nothing! It is merely
adaptive.
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Document Summary
Platonism does not mean that we discount the realm of material objects. The material world is good, there must be goodness in it because if there isn"t how could they (cid:1688)lose goodness(cid:1689) and become corrupt(cid:1689) Philosophers believe that early childhood is important because it explains how we behave. Looking at human nature is easiest in childhood (cicero). Cicero also argues that it is a human need to move, that being inactive is unnatural: childhood and sin. Augustine believes that human beings are naturally sinful and that this can be seen in children. He says that even small kids commit sins. Response: just because we do not rebuke infants does not mean that we do not consider their behaviour as bad. He learns a language because he sees people making gestures and uttering words. You learn words because people motion to things and give them names. Problems with this view on language learning: mistaken understanding of words and sentences.
