PSY 421 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: David Hume, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes
Chapter 5
empiricism
belief that all knowledge is derived from experience, especially sensory experience!
Hobbes, Thomas (1588–1679)
believed that the primary motive in human behavior is the seeking of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain!
Locke, John (1632–1704)
denied the existence of innate ideas but assumed many nativistically determined powers of the
mind!
idea
mental event that lingers after impressions or sensations have ceased!
reflection
use of the powers of the mind to creatively rearrange ideas derived from sensory experience!
quality
aspect of a physical object that has the power to produce an idea!
paradox of the basins
warm water will feel either hot or cold depending on where the hand is first placed!
Berkeley, George (1685–1753)
said that the only thing we experience directly is our own perceptions or secondary qualities!
Hume, David (1711–1776)
maintained that even cause and effect is nothing more than a habit of thought!
imagination
power of the mind to arrange and rearrange ideas into countless configurations!
law of resemblance
tendency for thoughts to run from one event to similar events!
law of contiguity
tendency for events that are experienced together to be remembered together!
Document Summary
Chapter 5 empiricism belief that all knowledge is derived from experience, especially sensory experience. Hobbes, thomas (1588 1679) believed that the primary motive in human behavior is the seeking of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Berkeley, george (1685 1753) said that the only thing we experience directly is our own perceptions or secondary qualities. Hartley, david (1705 1757) combined empiricism and associationism with rudimentary physiological notions vibratiuncle vibration that lingers in the brain after the initial vibrations caused by external stimulation cease. Mill, james (1773 1836) maintained that all mental events consisted of sensations and ideas held together by association. Bentham, jeremy (1748 1832) said that the seeking of pleasure and the avoidance of pain governed most human behavior. Utilitarianism the best society is one that provides the greatest good for the greatest number. Gassendi, pierre (1592 1655) saw humans as nothing but complex, physical machines with no need for a nonphysical mind.
