THE PROBLEM OF ABSTRACT IDEAS

Abstract

This paper is about the problem of abstract ideas, which is one of the key notions and issues of classic British empiricism. I will analyze the problem of abstract ideas following its development from its basic conception, given by Locke, through Berkeley’s critique of Locke and concluding with Hume’s refinement of Berkeley’s thesis that abstract ideas do not exist. The focus of my analysis will be the way in which the mind acquires abstract ideas, i.e. the nature of abstraction, as well as the issue of character and function of ideas considered to be abstract. Finally, my aim is to show that the problem of abstract ideas is an immanent field of development of classical empiricist thought, in its search to give an empiricist account of the use of reason.