John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

The concept of innate knowledge is the theory that humans can have knowledge without having gained that knowledge through experiencing the world with their sensory organs or through reasoning. Some theories discuss that people may not be aware of this knowledge as soon as they are born and instead, only become aware of in later on in their life after unlocking access to that knowledge (1). In the text, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding John Locke provides his case against the existence of innate knowledge; arguing that knowledge is gained through humans using their sensory organs and not from being imprinted upon the mind or soul before birth (2).
Firstly, Locke theorises that man has been given his sensory organs such as eyes to experience

the visual aspect of the world and for gaining knowledge about things such as colors within that world. Therefore, it seems peculiar to think that God or some other higher power might imprint the idea of color or any other idea that the man may gain knowledge of before the man was born, given that he has sensory organs. Moreover, there would seem to be no reason for man to have the ability to gain the knowledge of colors in the world if he was born with innate knowledge about colors (2).
Secondly, the universal nature of innate knowledge is one of the primary points that Locke discusses throughout his essay. This is because innate knowledge is viewed as knowledge that every living person would have imprinted on their mind or soul before birth. Furthermore, Locke discusses innate knowledge as knowledge that just is, this means that it is not knowledge that people would question or arrive at by reason, instead it is knowledge that is within people and understood to be true (2). Therefore, innate knowledge would be universally accepted by all because there would be no reason for the validity or reasoning behind that knowledge to be questioned. Though, this does not lead to knowledge that is universally accepted as true to be innate; due to the fact that there may be many other reasons that lead to a principle or idea to be agreed upon universally.
Thirdly, Locke goes on to discuss the existence of universally accepted knowledge, principles and morals. Discussing the fact that the same innate knowledge is given to everyone Locke uses children and the mentally challenged as examples for the non-existence of innate knowledge (2). For children and the mentally challenged are not considered to be without a mind or soul, therefore, they must have the same innate knowledge as everyone else. Although, it seems obvious that children and people who have lower mental capabilities do not have the same understanding as others have of principles, therefore, it would seem that innate principles do not exist. Though, it could be argued that children and the mentally challenged do have innate knowledge but they cannot express their understanding of this knowledge.
Locke expands on this discussion later on in the essay when he is considering the existence of innate moral principles.

He acknowledges that moral principles are spread throughout societies around the world, but even so, it can be seen that not all societies follow the same moral principles (2). As well as this, people within the same society do not follow the same moral principles or rules. Furthermore, he argues that moral principles are not innate because they require logical reasoning for the creation and understanding (2). Whereas, it would be logical to assume that reasoning would not be required when considering an idea or principle that is innate. Moreover, Locke points out that it is not unreasonable for someone to question the reasons for why as moral principle exists, therefore, if the existence of a moral principle was questioned it must not be innate, for if it were there would be no need to ask for the reasoning behind a moral principle (2).
Locke’s case against innate knowledge primarily rests on the idea that innate knowledge would not be questioned by those who had that innate knowledge, as well as, the fact that innate knowledge would be universal in its acceptance. Locke discusses many principles and ideas that others consider innate, using the existence of those who do not accept or follow these principles as proof that there are no innate principles, therefore, people are born as blank slates and gain their knowledge of the world using their sensory organs and

reasoning.