Tabula Rasa
Definition
Tabula Rasa is Latin for "blank slate." It's a concept in philosophy proposed by John Locke which suggests that at birth the human mind is essentially empty and that all ideas are formed through experience.
Analogy
Imagine your brain when you're born as an empty hard drive. As you grow up, every experience you have—every sight, sound, smell—is like data being written onto the hard drive. That's what tabula rasa is all about!
Related terms
Epistemology: The branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge - its nature, sources, limits etc. Tabula rasa falls under this category because it deals with how we acquire knowledge.
Nature vs. Nurture: A psychological debate related to whether heredity or environment has a more significant impact on physical and behavioral traits. The concept of tabula rasa is closely tied to the "nurture" side of this debate.
Sensationalism: The theory that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. This is closely linked with the idea of tabula rasa.
"Tabula Rasa" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (2)
- Which Enlightenment thinker is known for his ideas on education and the concept of the "tabula rasa"?
- Which Enlightenment philosopher coined the term 'tabula rasa' to discuss human understanding?
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