Locke Links Objects and Ideas

Locke links objects and ideas with the notion of qualities. In his philosophical framework, an object may create ideas in the minds of an individual. If this occurs, then the respective object has the power to produce such ideas for the individual and, with that, the quality to produce it. Qualities are thus thought of as the entities that are able to create ideas for the minds of individuals.

Locke uses two categories, primary and secondary, to describe qualities. The primary qualities in Locke's perception are those characteristics that reflect physical and objective traits for a certain object. With that, the individual mind reflects those primary qualities as realistic, defining coordinates of the object and, as such, as elements of the real world and of reality in general. Such qualities that are reflected in the individual mind could include perceptions of weight and volume, characteristics of shape or the state of the object.

Secondary qualities are those qualities that are resulting from the interpretation that the human mind gives to certain characteristics of the object. With that in mind, these interpretations reflect subjective characteristics, such as color or taste of an object. The fact that they are subjective means that there is no general notion of these qualities, but all take particular coordinates and dimensions, based on individual interpretations. This best explains Locke's quality distinction in that secondary qualities of an object are deeply influenced by the individual, subjective perception towards that object, while primary qualities exist with the object no matter what that perception is.

2. Aristotle's description of what it means to be a happy individual is a logical sequence of elements that he takes into consideration. His ideas start with his general view on life, which, according to his teleological belief, is comprised of phenomena that have a function and an end. With that in mind, the individual commits to performing certain actions because of his belief that those respective actions will lead him to a desired finalization, to the required end. Inevitably and intrinsically, the ultimate objective and, as such, the ultimate end, of an individual human being will be to be happy. The question that Aristotle is asking is what are the required actions (and the required function) that lead to happiness. His answer is that these are all actions that are in accordance to human reason.

With human reason also comes the necessity to act within certain extremes and to be able to find the appropriate middle way between these. The mean is also the 'right amount' out of each activity, action or enterprise that the individual sets himself about to complete. Aristotle exemplifies this with the action of being courageous: being courageous needs to take into consideration both the conditions in which the act needs to be completed and the threats that may arise from that action. The right amount of courage will provide a virtuous situation for the individual. Such a situation could be, for example, standing up for yourself in a heated conflict with other individuals. If the subject of discussion is worth standing up for, the individual could consider physical action in that sense. If not, it would be foolish and useless to undertake.