verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
In epistemology (the philosophical theory of knowledge), John Locke argued against the existence of innate ideas (ideas present in the mind naturally or at birth) by showing how all except “trifling” human ideas may be derived from sensation or reflection (observation of the operations of the mind) and how knowledge may be defined in terms of the perception of agreement or connections between ideas.
Related Questions
- What are John Locke’s most famous works?
- What contributions did John Locke make to political theory?
- How did John Locke influence the design of U.S. government?
- When and where did the Enlightenment take place?
- What led to the Enlightenment?
- Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
- What were the most important ideas of the Enlightenment?
- What were some results of the Enlightenment?
