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#10 Nature versus Nurture 

Description: The topic of Nature versus Nurture is an argument of  instinctual knowledge against experience. While the main bulk of the topic spans the up to the 19th century, a preface can be seen in the ideas of the platonic forms, Descartes, Locke and others that we can regard as the origins of the argument.

Contributions: We have split the textual readings between the two of us, and we will supplement the presentation with an invitation from the class on various viewpoints in which we will present. We will discuss the ideas of Descartes, Locke, and Plato.

Recommended Readings: Please read the chapters in the Dream of Enlightenment for John Locke and Rene Descartes (Chapters 1 + 4). A background knowledge of the two is recommended. Also Chapter 11 of the Dream of Reason if you need a reminder of Plato's Perfect forms.

Quiz (Will be on the class presentation)

1. What is Plato's idea of the perfect forms?
2. What does Descartes say about the idea of knowledge before birth?
3. What did John Locke say about the mind?
4.  How is debate defined in modern day?

Sources:
"Dream of Enlightenment" by Anthony Gottlieb, Chapters on Descartes and Locke
Nature Vs. Nurture Simply Psychology
https://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html