The New Essays on Human Understanding

"The New Essays on Human Understanding" is a collection of writings by philosopher John Locke, who explores how humans acquire knowledge and understanding. He examines different ways we learn—through experience, reflection, and sensory perception—and discusses the limits of our mental abilities. Locke argues that the mind starts as a "tabula rasa" (blank slate) and is shaped by our interactions with the world. This work emphasizes that knowledge depends on our perceptions and experiences rather than innate ideas, influencing modern ideas about learning, cognition, and how we understand ourselves and the world around us.