On The Rational Factors In Locke's Philosophy

Locke is the typical exponent of the theory of knowledge on modern experimentalism, whose theory not only has immerse influence at his time, but deeply affects later philosophy and its development. Take his theory of knowledge for consider, in the past, the domestic academic community often simply evaluates his philosophy as materialism empiricism and knowablism but neglect some contradictions included in his philosophy, especially the factor of rationalism. In recent years, a lot of domestic and oversea scholars have realized the point but they have only brushed lightly and haven't expanded on the topic. Therefore, I plan to descant the factor of rationalism in Locke's philosophy in the thesis. And then we can acquire certain revelation on the complexity of his philosophy and the relationship between modern empiricism and materialism, realizing fully that empiricism and materialism are not only opposite but also integrated and the tendency of opposition and fusion will have great significance on understanding later philosophy and its direction. The content is divided into four parts:The first part mainly discusses the thought of rationalism displayed on the topmost object of cognition. Locke not only takes normal entity as the topmost object of cognition but also divides it into material entity and moral entity on the topmost object of cognition—entity, which happens to have the same view with rationalist Cartesian dualism, Furthermore, Locke affirms the normal entity exists but it's unknowable. In all, Locke is different from empiricist who takes individuality as the subject and takes the same idea as rationalist who makes generality as the subject. Hence, Locke apparently shows nationalism factors on the topmost object of cognition—entity. And it analyses the reason why Locke blends nationalism factors based on this.The discussion of the second one is mainly about Locke's thought of rationalism on origin of knowledge. On that field, Locke assumes concept has two sources—feeling and introspection. Locke doesn't tell where the introspection, as an ability of people's mind, comes from. Besides, he admits perceptibility of human beings is heaven-sent and an ability that heart has on application while he criticizes the present innate ideas in people's heart, which is what nationalist Carter clarifies in disapproving the criticism of people to his philosophy, and he also admit people have innate perceptibility. Hence, The thought on Knowledge origin of Locke shows nationalism factors. And it analyses the reason why Locke blends nationalism factors based on this.The third one mainly discusses the factors of rationalism on Locke's theory of knowledge. The factors of rationalism in Locke's philosophy emerge clearly on the theory of knowledge, and on this point, Locke almost entirely deviates from the direction of empiricism and turns to rationalism line. First, he divided the knowledge into three parts: institute knowledge, deductive knowledge, sense knowledge; second, he thinks the standards to knowledge certainty lie in clearness and broadness of conception and intuition is reliable but experience knowledge is not. Obviously, the opinions are almost the same with the theory of knowledge of rationalism and I analyzes why Locke turns to rationalism on the problem was that Locke try to make his theory meeting the idea about knowledge in that time.On the forth one, I concentrates on exploring the meaning and influence to later philosophy of Locke's empiricism philosophy blending the factor of rationalism. To be specific, fully knowing all rationalism factors in Locke's philosophy enable us not only have a thorough understanding on the its complexity but further understand the inclination of opposition and fusion showed in modern empiricism and rationalism and mainly the tendency of fusion, which means empiricism blends rationalism, and vice versa. Based on this, it's important and significant to the development and direction of later philosophy for having thorough understanding on the fusion tendency, which is mainly expressed in the influence to Kantian philosophy and logical positivism in modern philosophy. At the same time, we know the problem is always the philosophic topic needs us to deeply discuss and research through the influence from the fusion.