Question:medium

"All the materials of our thinking are derived from outward and inward impressions" is a statement given by which philosopher?

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Hume’s empiricism asserts that all knowledge comes from sensory impressions, laying the groundwork for later empiricist and psychological theories.
Updated On: Jan 16, 2026
  • Hume
  • Descartes
  • Spinoza
  • Berkeley
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Phase 1: Grasping Hume's Empiricism.
David Hume, a prominent British empiricist, posited that all knowledge originates from sensory impressions, categorized as either external (derived from the physical world) or internal (stemming from subjective experience). For Hume, the mind is not an originator of ideas; rather, it combines impressions to form concepts.
Phase 2: Evaluating the Choices.
- 1. Hume: This aligns with Hume's philosophy. His empiricist doctrine asserts that all constituents of thought are sourced from sensory impressions, both external and internal. - 2. Descartes: Descartes was a rationalist, prioritizing reason over sensory impressions as the foundation for knowledge. - 3. Spinoza: Spinoza, a pantheist, did not specifically advocate that all knowledge derives from impressions; his primary concerns were metaphysics and ethics. - 4. Berkeley: Berkeley's focus was idealism, the idea that existence is contingent upon being perceived, rather than specifically on sensory impressions as defined by Hume.
Phase 3: Resolution. The accurate selection is 1. Hume.
Concluding Statement: \[ \boxed{\text{The correct answer is 1. Hume.}} \]
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