Analysis Of Rene Descartes Theory Of Ideas

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Rene Descartes’ Theory of Ideas has helped to shape our entire world of thought as it applies to all subjects. While it may seem to be an overstatement to say all subjects, it is not. Whether it is science, literature, or the fine arts, all of these meditations require some degree of thought. People think all day long; they are constantly and unknowingly solving problems, analyzing, detecting, observing, questioning, wondering, and sensing; yet they rarely question their ability to do so or where the knowledge comes from. In his studies, Descartes sought to discover the origin of these thoughts and abilities. Is the information in our head learned or have we had it all along and are simply remembering? Why is it that all animals, humans included, acquire a specific set of survival instincts at birth? While Descartes’ theory led to the further investigation and questioning by other philosophers, it also allowed for many discoveries in the world of psychology, as it relates to development and instinctual behavior.
Within Descartes’ Theory of Ideas lay his theory of innate ideas. He quotes, “But the chief question at this point concerns the ideas which I take to be derived from things existing outside me: what is my reason for thinking they resemble these things? Nature has apparently taught me to think this.” “According to Descartes, our minds come stocked with a variety of intellectual concepts — ideas whose content derives solely from the nature of the mind. This storehouse includes ideas in mathematics, logic, and metaphysics. Interestingly, Descartes holds that even our sensory ideas involve innate content.” Descartes is not suggesting that these ideas are merely a creation of the mind, but rather the brain; they were wr...

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...ky believed that it was both; the language forming ability is written into the DNA and further assisted by nurture.
Although at first glance, Rene Descartes’ theory of innate ideas may not seem to have a significant place in the world of psychology, it has served and still does as a variable to consider when studying the origin of knowledge and instinctual behaviors. The theory suggests that ideas are formed from some sort of innate knowledge that is pre-written into an individual’s DNA. Many scientists may not consider it to be a helpful variable in their research because it tends to rule out room for active experimentation and leads to unanswered questions. However, even though Descartes’ theory is nothing more than a theory, it has been unable to completely prove false or null and will continue to be considered in the world of philosophy and psychology alike.

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