Cognative Development: Therories of Locke and Descartes
When it comes to cognitive development, several theories have been put forth by many different philosophers, psychologists, and other scientists. The two most significant theories, which were first explored by the Greeks, were later debated between John Locke, and Rene Descartes. John Locke, a seventeenth-century English philosopher, argued against the belief that human beings are born with certain ideas already in their minds. He claimed that, on the contrary, the mind is a tabula rasa (in Latin, a "blank slate") until experience begins to "write" on it. He was quoted in saying: "the human mind begins as a white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas." (The Blank Slate, n.d.)
However, according to René Descartes, a seventeenth-century philosopher, physicist, physiologist, and mathematician, "a clear and distinct knowledge of the world can be constructed from resources innate to the human mind."(The Blank Slate, n.d.) In other words, an infant's mind is not simply a tablet waiting to receive a blueprint for whatever we want the child to become. Rather, the infant enters the world as a highly complex being with an agenda already mapped out by its genes.
These arguments boil down to one debate that has been going on for centuries. The most common name for this debate is "nature verses nurture." Are our destinies determined by our genetic code, or are we able to design our own outcomes? Many types of research and several studies have been done to explain both sides of this on-going conundrum.
One of the best studies on the side of Locke's "blank slate theory" is that of the study of feral children. The best-known story of feral children is that of two girls, Amala and Kamala, who were raised by a she-wolf. In 1920, Reverend J. A. L. Singh saw a mother wolf and cubs, two of which had long, matted hair and looked human. After considerable preparation and difficulties, the two human creatures were captured. They turned out to be two girls whose
However, according to René Descartes, a seventeenth-century philosopher, physicist, physiologist, and mathematician, "a clear and distinct knowledge of the world can be constructed from resources innate to the human mind."(The Blank Slate, n.d.) In other words, an infant's mind is not simply a tablet waiting to receive a blueprint for whatever we want the child to become. Rather, the infant enters the world as a highly complex being with an agenda already mapped out by its genes.
These arguments boil down to one debate that has been going on for centuries. The most common name for this debate is "nature verses nurture." Are our destinies determined by our genetic code, or are we able to design our own outcomes? Many types of research and several studies have been done to explain both sides of this on-going conundrum.
One of the best studies on the side of Locke's "blank slate theory" is that of the study of feral children. The best-known story of feral children is that of two girls, Amala and Kamala, who were raised by a she-wolf. In 1920, Reverend J. A. L. Singh saw a mother wolf and cubs, two of which had long, matted hair and looked human. After considerable preparation and difficulties, the two human creatures were captured. They turned out to be two girls whose
References: Nature vs. Nurture. Planet Psych Retrieved December 17, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.planetpsych.assets/6565.php Segal, Nancy L., Ph.D. (1999) "New Twin Studies Show..." Psychology Today 54-59 and 69-70 Douglas Keith Candland. Feral Children and Clever Animals. Retrieved December 18th, 2005 from http://www.feralchildren.com/en/neuro.php Unknown Author. The Blank Slate Retrieved December 18th, 2005 from http://www.wnyc.org/books/5373 Hamer, Dean, and Peter Copland. (1998) Living with Our Genes: Why They Matter More Than You Think. New York: Doubleday Myers, David G. (2005). Exploring Psychology (6th ed.) New York: Worth Publishers