Question

"All the materials of our thinking are derived from outward and inward impressions" is a statement given by which philosopher?

• A. Hume
• B. Descartes
• C. Spinoza
• D. Berkeley

Hint:

Hume’s empiricism asserts that all knowledge comes from sensory impressions, laying the groundwork for later empiricist and psychological theories.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding Hume’s Empiricism.
David Hume, an influential British empiricist, argued that all knowledge is derived from sensory impressions, which are either outward (from the external world) or inward (from internal experience). For Hume, the mind does not create ideas independently; instead, it synthesizes impressions into ideas.
Step 2: Analyzing the Options.
- 1. Hume: This is correct. Hume’s empiricist philosophy holds that all materials for thought come from sensory impressions, both external and internal. - 2. Descartes: Descartes was a rationalist who emphasized the role of reason, not sensory impressions, in forming knowledge. - 3. Spinoza: Spinoza was a pantheist and did not explicitly argue that all knowledge comes from impressions; his focus was on metaphysics and ethics. - 4. Berkeley: Berkeley focused on idealism and the notion that existence depends on being perceived, not specifically on sensory impressions in Hume’s sense.
Step 3: Conclusion. The correct answer is 1. Hume.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{The correct answer is 1. Hume.}} \]