Locke's theory of perception

Locke’s Theory of Perception 243
bodies, from this physical point of view, if we are to under-
stand how they communicate with one another, and why
something more than just matter must be present before per-
ception of, and by means of, bodies can occur.

Suppose then we take an enormous number of the ultimate
particles of matter and, with the skill of a god, put them to-
gether to form a human body. Now just as putting together
the same enormous number of marbles would not form a
living colossus, sowe cannot hope by this kindof juxtaposition
of parts to form a living body, but we shall, by hypothesis,
construct one similar in every physical detail to a living
model. Atom by atom we build it up, till before us lies the
finished product, trunk, head, and limbs, the whole equipped
with the five or more sense-organs. The eyes and the ears
are open, and are being stimulated by particles and vibra-
tions from other bodies in the neighborhood. As a result,
minute motions of the particles in these organs of sense are
caused which, by impact on impact, are communicated to the
brain. As yet, however, the causal sequence differs not a whit
from the bump-and-rebound type that occurs say among the
particles of a stone, and even the last term of the sequence—
the effect in the brain—is simply a borrowed motion through
space. Briefly, we do indeed have before us a physical organ-
ism, exhibiting extension in space, shape, motion, and nu-
merous parts, but we plainly do not have before us a living
organism. In Locke’s words, “whatever impressions are
made on the outward parts, if they are not taken notice of
within, there is no perception.’’¹ And there is nothing as yet
within the organism to note what goes on there or anywhere
else. An atom or a group of atoms cannot perceive another,
be this other either at a distance from it or in spatially im-
¹ ɪɪ, 9, 3∙

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