Lockean superaddition and Lockean humility |
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Authors: | Patrick J Connolly |
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Institution: | 1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Seville, Spain;2. INRA – UMR Economie Publique, Thiverval-Grignon, France;1. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Universidad de Granada, Granada, España;2. CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP-Spain);3. Unidad de Bioestadística Clínica, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España;4. Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Reino Unido |
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Abstract: | This paper offers a new approach to an old debate about superaddition in Locke. Did Locke claim that some objects have powers that are unrelated to their natures or real essences? The question has split commentators. Some (Wilson, Stuart, Langton) claim the answer is yes and others (Ayers, Downing, Ott) claim the answer is no. This paper argues that both of these positions may be mistaken. I show that Locke embraced a robust epistemic humility. This epistemic humility includes ignorance of the real essences of bodies, of the causal processes underlying the production of natural phenomena, and of God's method of creation. I show how this epistemic humility offers strong support for an agnostic response to the question of superaddition. Locke did not intend to claim that bodies either do or do not have properties unrelated to their real essences. Instead, his primary goal in discussing the topic was to emphasize the strict limits to human knowledge. |
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Keywords: | Locke Superaddition Gravity Thinking matter Epistemic humility Essences |
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