Adam "knew what every thing was at the first sight, and what its Natural Powers and Properties were; which could not be from External Impressions, in which way at best nothing can be known without long Observation, and many Experiments, and a Train of Reasonings; and therefore must be from Connate or Inbred Ideas, which were then bright and sparkling in his Mind."
— Sherlock, William (1639/40-1707)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Rogers
Date
1704
Metaphor
Adam "knew what every thing was at the first sight, and what its Natural Powers and Properties were; which could not be from External Impressions, in which way at best nothing can be known without long Observation, and many Experiments, and a Train of Reasonings; and therefore must be from Connate or Inbred Ideas, which were then bright and sparkling in his Mind."
Metaphor in Context
Now we all know that Adam was created with the Natural Ideas and Knowledge of Things, and had all his Knowledge from within, not from without: he knew what every thing was at the first sight, and what its Natural Powers and Properties were; which could not be from External Impressions, in which way at best nothing can be known without long Observation, and many Experiments, and a Train of Reasonings; and therefore must be from Connate or Inbred Ideas, which were then bright and sparkling in his Mind. He could Speak as soon as he was made; and if he had an Inbred Natural Knowledge of Words, he must have an Inbred Knowledge of Things, which are signified by Words. For a Mind must conceive and have formed Notions and Ideas of Things, before it can Speak.
(p. 128)
(p. 128)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in ECCO
Citation
14 entries in ESTC (1704, 1705, 1713, 1719, 1726, 1735, 1744, 1751, 1753, 1760, 1761, 1764, 1776).
Sherlock, William. A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World. (London: Printed for W. Rogers, 1704). <Link to ESTC>
Also found searching in ECCO: A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World, &c., 6th ed. (London: Printed for J. Walthoe, D. Browne, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, J. Clarke, J. Hinton [and 11 others], 1760).
Sherlock, William. A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World. (London: Printed for W. Rogers, 1704). <Link to ESTC>
Also found searching in ECCO: A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World, &c., 6th ed. (London: Printed for J. Walthoe, D. Browne, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, J. Clarke, J. Hinton [and 11 others], 1760).
Theme
Innate Ideas
Date of Entry
10/09/2006
