1. Issues with Concept Empiricism: Is the concept of God innate
Issues with Concept Empiricism: Is the concept of God innate? Descartes’ Trademark Argument
Focus: To consider the criticism of Concept Empiricism that there are at least some innate concepts through looking at Descartes’ trademark argument.
2 mins

2. Innatism (The Doctrine of Innate Ideas)
It is important to note that while some empiricists would claim that all of our ideas come from experience, no philosopher would claim that all of our ideas are innate.
Innate ideas could be implanted by God, part of the way our brain has evolved, memories from a different life, thoughts that are contained in all living beings, and so on.
Task: Copy down Locke’s definition of innate ideas below and annotate the quote to analyse what innate ideas are.
Locke’s definition of innate ideas: ‘[S]ome primary notions... Characters as it were stamped upon the Mind of Man, which the Soul receives in its very first Being; and brings into the world with it.’ (Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1, 2 par.1
10 mins
Explain how innate ideas would disprove the Tabula Rasa theory.
Different philosophers have suggested that we may have innate ideas in very different ways. Innate ideas could be implanted by God, part of the way our brain has evolved, memories from a different life, thoughts that are contained in all living beings, and so on.

3. Descartes’ Trademark Argument
To read Descartes’ Third Meditation – what is he arguing?
Read p of blue book.
Copy down the formal argument.
Highlight where each of the premises and conclusions can be found in the text.
Read pages and add to your notes
15 mins Anthology: Third meditiation (p.14)

4. Evaluating Descartes’ Trademark Argument
Strengths
Weaknesses
13 mins Hear feedback from the class (string debate).
Can you come up with any strengths or weaknesses of his trademark argument yourself?
Complete the worksheet using the blue book