The Problem of Truth: Locke: The Empiricist—Book II

Epistemology is a sector of philosophy that attempts to figure out how to gain knowledge. Both Descartes and Locke, in their writings, addressed epistemology. However, Locke took the empiricist view. The empiricist believes knowledge is gained through the experiences one has. Locke believes we must use the “faculties of the mind” to get to the truth. The faculties are what humans use to discover the truth. One faculty of the mind is perception. Locke rejects that what we see the material world, but we see certain images and representations (what we perceive). He also states that judgment can alter perception (II.ix.8). For example, one can perceive something from their senses but the input from other people may alter their perceptions. Another faculty is “of discerning and distinguishing.” Locke stated, “Unless the mind had a distinct perception of different objects and their qualities, it would be capable of very little knowledge.” (II.xi.1) Thus, if one cannot use the faculty of discerning one will never get at the truth, and live in a falsehood. Locke also explains what is good and evil is determined by pleasure and pain. Good is defined as increased pleasure or decreased pain; evil is defined as decreased pleasure or increased pain (II.xx.2). He further explains if someone loves grapes they love them because they taste good and increase pleasure (II.xx.4).