Question

Which among the following statements is/are TRUE of Rene Descartes' conception of 'innate ideas'?

• A. They are neither in me nor in accordance with some things existing outside me
• B. They are not adventitious
• C. They are produced by myself
• D. We possess them purely by virtue of our nature

Hint:

For Descartes, innate ideas are universal, inherent, and independent of experience.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B, D

Rene Descartes’ philosophy introduces the concept of innate ideas, which are ideas inherent in the human mind, not derived from external experiences or constructed by oneself. Here is the analysis of each option: 1. (A) They are neither in me nor in accordance with some things existing outside me: This is incorrect. Descartes believed that innate ideas are inherent in the mind and are a fundamental part of the self. 2. (B) They are not adventitious: This is correct. Descartes classified ideas into three types: - it{Innate ideas}: Inherent in the mind by nature. - it{Adventitious ideas}: Derived from external sensory experiences. - it{Fictitious ideas}: Constructed by the mind itself. Innate ideas are not adventitious because they are not derived from sensory experience. 3. (C) They are produced by myself: This is incorrect. Innate ideas are not produced by the self; they are pre-existing in the mind. 4. (D) We possess them purely by virtue of our nature: This is correct. Descartes argued that innate ideas, such as the concepts of God, infinity, and geometry, are inherent to the mind due to its very nature. Thus, the correct statements are (B) and (D).