Locke begins this chapter by defining the modes of thinking. he says thinking occurs when the mind turns its view inwards. "Sensation" is any impression on the body made by an external object, which is the entrance of any idea into the understanding of the senses. "rememberance" is the reoccurance of the sensation without the external object. ideas that float in the mind without any understanding are "reverie". Ideas that are taken notice of are "attention". ideas that the mind takes great interest in are "study". These are some instances that Locke says the mind may observe itself. then he goes on to explain attention. there are ideas that are always present in the mind, and some ideas that are so earnest that the mind shuts out all other thoughts, and takes no notice of the ordinary impressions made then on the senses, at other times the mind barely observes the train of ideas that succeed in the understanding without directing and pursuing any of them, and at other times it lets them pass almost unregarded.
he concludes by saying thinking is the action of the soul and not the essence. if thinking has so many modes and the mode of attention has different degrees, then it is probable that the soul is acting and thinking is not its essence. because the essence of any agent is not capable of variation. i think he is explaining that even though the mind is constantly working and thinking there still exists a will that choose how the mind studies certain ideas. and so this will cannot be a prisoner of its own function if its function is to reason.
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So was Locke saying that the will, reason, and perception are the same thing? And that this contemplates that sense data.
I do not think he means they are the same thing. I think he believes that whatever is in the mind is already in the senses. I think he believes in free will, and not determinism. I think by saying "thinking is the action of the soul and not the essence," he is saying the mind and body are separate. the mind must be utilized to understand the perceptions of the body. the soul's function as intended by God, is not to guide the body, but to use it to to understand ideas. i think he is trying to prove that determinism does not exist and free will does, because if the thoughts were determined by the senses then why does it struggle in degrees? if the soul is connected to the mind, then and it's entire function was to think, then the process of understanding should be consistent. but then why, when we are trying to understand a new and difficult idea, does our mind sometimes show us an image that does not help us understand the idea over and over. it should happen once, the mind should understand that is not the right thought process, then move on, even if there is something physically wrong with the mind. why do humans understand that sleeping helps clear our thoughts? i think Locke thinks humans are not slaves to their perceptions and senses. instead they reason by way of them because they choose to.
Maybe the degrees of struggle that you talk about in the will are themselves determined by a prior causal series.
nj07470
why are there different degrees of thought? if everything is determined, then the mind should understand every idea in the same manner. why does the mind show reocurring thoughts, when the thought does not help in understanding the idea?
“I think Locke thinks humans are not slaves to their perceptions and senses. Instead they reason by way of them because they choose to." (leckel). IF that is what Locke thinks, I think that’s kind of dumb, because you’re just attaching the soul to perception and sensations. Ya can't find any other way to fit the soul in, so ya say it chooses to work this way. huh? What’s a soul?
"the mind must be utilized to understand the perceptions of the body."(leckel) sensations** of the body.
the soul's function as intended by God, is not to guide the body, but to use it to understand ideas. (leckel), according to Locke ideas are formed from the acquiring of sensory data and then reflection (perception). I think you added an extra step. The soul/perception/reason as I am understanding it, creates ideas and that would allow free will, if perception is outside determined law of course. I blogged against this.
Why does the mind struggle in degrees? I think Locke would say it is because they have not obtained enough sensory experience, so it is harder and could be wrong. Once we acquire more data our schemas change. determinsim works like evolution building off of the last to effect the next.
I also think Locke is for free will but I'm not sure how he thinks it works. Asides from saying that perception is the soul.
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