On The Development Of Theories Of Innate Ideas In Modern Rationalism

The theme of modern western philosophy is epistemology. The rationalism, opposite to empiricism, holds the theory of innate ideas.The first philosopher to present the thought of innate ideas was Plato in the history, who presented this proposal in his"recollection"of the soul that soul is immortal and learning is recalling of the soul. The theory of"Recollection"made Plato be the founder of transcendental epistemology and the first philosopher who systematically stated the theory of innate ideas. And the theory of innate ideas initially advocated by Descartes in modern time was just to recover a part of Plato's"recollection"to a certain extent.Descartes believed that philosophy starts with methodology, and his methodology could be mainly generalized into two types: universal suspicious method and common mathematic method. Descartes put forward the proposition that"I think, therefore I am"by the former, and the theory of innate ideas were presented by the latter that they are the general rules coming from"the light of reason"and common principles, ideas of God, the ideas of simple attribute of things. Descartes'innate conception was criticized by Hobbes and Gassendi. Spinoza's theory of innate ideas carried forward and developed Descartes'.Spinoza noticed a paradox in methodology, and believed that the initial methods originate from"true ideas"of innate concept. These initial methods are original methods and serve as the source of other ideas. Being dependent on"true ideas", we can establish a building of knowledge. His innate ideas is a type of intuitive knowledge which starts with"true ideas"and get the nature of things and, is the most comprehensive type of knowledge and the"best virtue of heart and soul". The intuitive knowledge is also the most comprehensive knowledge of moral.After Spinoza, the theory of innate ideas was systematically criticized by Locke. Leibniz's theory of innate ideas was just an anti-criticism against Locke's anti-innate concept. Based on the criticism, Leibniz proposed that"the innate ideas exist potentially". He believed that conception is potential and revealed by the chance of experience. Knowledge substantially belongs to a part of the conception of awaken soul. Up to Leibniz's theory, we may say that modern theory of innate ideas is at an end.Modern theories of innate ideas have something in common, i.e. the theories of innate ideas as presence of epistemology are closely interrelated with their own substance theory. Based on substance theory, those theories of innate ideas conversely serve for substance theory. The developing trace of modern theories of innate ideas can be shown as below: evolving from the theistic theory of innate ideas to the theories of innate ideas with pantheism, from the actual and explicit theory of innate ideas to the potential and possible ones, from the theory of innate ideas which is strictly separated from empiricism to that which is closely interrelated with empiricism.The theory of innate ideas had greatly influenced classic German philosophy. If Descartes and Spinoza's theories of innate ideas belong to the type of direct one, Leibniz's and Kant's ones belong to the indirect one. Leibniz's theory belongs to innate potential ideas while Kant's theory belongs to innate capability. Hegel adored and supported Descartes and Leibniz with open speeches. Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind, or even the beginning of his whole philosophy, starts from Descartes'theory of innate ideas"I think, therefore I am", which means the certainty of self-awareness. The"idea"which is limited to the theory of innate ideas, has been developed into various features of"Absolute Spirit"by Hegel, and on basis of this Hegel established his ontology and epistemology.After the German Classic philosophy, the influence of the thoeries of innate ideas is decreasing. But who can deny that it maybe preperate another wave just for a rest.