1.3.1 Innatism

• Unlike empiricists, innatists believe humans possess knowledge that is independent of sensory
• Plato believed that the soul contains innate ideas or forms that exist independently of the physical world.


  True
• Innatists believe that certain types of knowledge are acquired solely through sensory perception and learning.

  False
• What is an example of a concept that innatists believe is universally recognized across all cultures without formal education?

  Basic mathematical principles
• What does the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) proposed by Chomsky suggest about language acquisition?

  Inherent grammatical rules
• Descartes argued that the concept of God is an innate idea that is not derived from sensory experience.


  True
• Innatism asserts that certain types of knowledge are inborn
• What is an example of a basic mathematical principle that innatists believe is universal and not learned through the senses?

  1+1=2
• According to Descartes, what is an example of an innate idea that humans are born with?

  God
• Match the philosopher with their innatist position:

  Plato ↔️ Innate ideas accessed through reason

  René Descartes ↔️ Innate concept of God

  Gottfried Leibniz ↔️ Innate dispositions and principles
• Causality is considered a necessary concept that cannot be derived from experience alone, according to innatists.


  True
• Innatism emphasizes that knowledge is primarily learned through observation and experience.

  False
• What did Leibniz propose about the mind's role in shaping our understanding of the world?

  Innate dispositions and principles
• Basic mathematical principles like 1+1=2 are universally recognized without formal education
• Apparent universals are always the result of innate knowledge.

  False
• Innatists believe that some fundamental concepts are part of our innate cognitive architecture.


  True
• Innatists contend that there are limits to how much new knowledge can be acquired through learning
• What does Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device (LAD) suggest about grammatical rules?

  Inherent grammatical rules
• Why do innatists argue that children's language acquisition indicates a predisposition for linguistic structures?

  Limited exposure to language
• What do empiricists compare the mind to at birth?

  Blank slate
• According to empiricists, what primarily shapes our knowledge and understanding?

  Experiences and learning
• What do innatists argue is the advantage of innate knowledge over sensory experience in terms of certainty?

  More secure foundation
• Innatists believe humans are born with ideas and concepts that are independent of learning or perception.


  True
• Match the philosopher with their innatist position:

  Plato ↔️ Innate ideas accessed through reason

  René Descartes ↔️ Innate concept of God
• Gottfried Leibniz proposed that the mind contains innate dispositions and principles
• Order the core arguments for innatism based on their primary focus:

  1️⃣ Universality

  2️⃣ Necessity

  3️⃣ Language Acquisition
• Chomsky's concept of a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) suggests an inherent predisposition for linguistic structures
• Plato believed that the soul contains innate ideas or forms
• Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is an example used to support the innatist argument for language acquisition
• Causality is considered a necessary concept for understanding events.

  True
• Empiricists argue that knowledge is derived from sensory experience
• Match the innatist argument with its empiricist counterpoint:

  Universality ↔️ Common environmental factors

  Necessity ↔️ Learned through experience

  Language Acquisition ↔️ General cognitive abilities
• What does the innatist perspective challenge about the origin of knowledge?

  Sensory experience as sole source
• Critics of innatism believe it risks being overly speculative.


  True