Idea

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An idea (from Greek ἰδέα 'aspect, appearance, form', related to εῖδος eîdos, 'sight, vision, aspect') It is a mental representation that arises from a person's reasoning or imagination. It is considered the most basic act of understanding, when contemplating the mere action of knowing something.

The human capacity to contemplate ideas is associated with the capacity for reasoning, self-reflection, creativity, and the ability to acquire and apply the intellect. Ideas give rise to concepts, which are the basis of any type of scientific or philosophical knowledge. However, in a popular sense, an idea can be raised even in the absence of reflection, for example, when talking about the idea of a person or a place.

Definition

An idea is a philosophical term that, for the most part, can be analyzed from four points of view:

• Logical: The idea is equal to a concept or a proposition, which has a meaning.
• Ontological: The idea is comparable to something material that exists in the real world.
• Transcendental: The idea as a possibility of knowledge and is something that you also want to express something to have more knowledge about what you are dealing with or studying.
• Psychological: The idea is equal to a subjective mental representation.

Origin

Platonic Ideas

Plato formulated the so-called "Theory of Ideas". In this he places ideas in the intelligible world, because according to him they are the only source of true knowledge, being entities:

• Intangible
• Absolutes
• Perfect
• Infinite
• Eternities
• Individuals
• Unchangeable (do not change)
• Independent of the physical world
• His knowledge leads to universal truth

This theory suggests the existence of two independent but related worlds: on the one hand there is the imperfect and fleeting world of material things and, on the other, the perfect and eternal world of ideas. He therefore defends an ontological dualism (sensible world-intelligible world). From an epistemological point of view, ideas could be defined as universal.

Rationalism

Rationalists favored the nativist solution, they attribute it to the Nature Of Man.

Empiricism

Empiricists maintain that the origin of ideas must be sought in sensory experience; This is in charge of filling the mind with content (ideas). Idea would be a mental content resulting from the action of stimuli on the subject's senses.

Classes

Rationalism

Ideas: Adventitious, factitious and innate

Empiricism

Empiricists between ideas of sensation and reflection, between simple and complex ideas; nature only provides particular ideas; the general ones are the product of the mind.

Law of extension and comprehension

1. The extension of an idea.- It is the number of individuals to which this idea applies.
2. Understanding an idea.- It refers to the set of notes or features that contain that idea.

According to the above, the law of extension and understanding of an idea is stated: The greater the extension, the less understanding, and vice versa.