TWO THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE 51 



Tridimensional Space seemed the simple elementary 

 framework of our Knowledge of Nature. 



The method of Descartes was further extended 

 by the English philosopher Locke. Those qualities 

 which formed the elements of Knowledge were de- 

 scribed by him as the primary qualities of body ; 

 the sensible presentation comprised also the 

 secondary qualities which seemed to be in some 

 way superposed upon and contained within the 

 former. 



Our fundamental ideas of Nature were called by 

 Locke sensible ideas. These ideas were derived 

 from our sensible Experience, and it is only just to 

 Locke to point out that, when examined in detail, 

 his sensible ideas are seen to be not mere qualifica- 

 tions of sensation, but rather the elementary char- 

 acters of Nature viewed as a dynamic process and 

 discovered by our Activity. Yet the ambiguous 

 term sensible ideas unfortunately led to their being 

 regarded as ideas derived, not from our action in any 

 form, but from pure sensation alone. 



This extraordinary error was intensified in the 

 speculation of Berkeley and Hume. Experience with 

 them appeared to consist solely of a succession of 

 sensations appearing to, impressing, or affecting a 

 tabula rasa of consciousness. 



