Tabula Rasa
Definition
Tabula Rasa is Latin for "blank slate." It's a concept in philosophy proposed by John Locke which suggests that at birth the human mind is essentially empty and that all ideas are formed through experience.
Related terms
Epistemology: The branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge - its nature, sources, limits etc. Tabula rasa falls under this category because it deals with how we acquire knowledge.
Nature vs. Nurture: A psychological debate related to whether heredity or environment has a more significant impact on physical and behavioral traits. The concept of tabula rasa is closely tied to the "nurture" side of this debate.
Sensationalism: The theory that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. This is closely linked with the idea of tabula rasa.
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