"John Locke invented common sense, and only Englishmen have had it ever since."
–Bertrand Russell
As I have been writing on the subject of science, cosmology, and religious sentiment, reading Dr. Dennett (refer to my previous posts) has been very interesting. In page 26, the epigram by Bertrand Russell refers to Locke and his method of empiricism. In a coy way, Russell references Locke's common sense. Of course, in his reference, Dennett refers to Locke's idea of Ex nihilo nihil fit (=nothing can come from nothing). Locke obviously believed in a pre-existent Mind, calling this idea a common notion. Living in Descartes and Locke's epoch, the notion of a Creator, a rational and cognitive Mind, was readily accepted. However, this isn't cause for any scientist or religious person to deny the abilities of philosophers in the realm of empirical science. I'm currently still awaiting Dr. Poythress' book on theology's relation to science. However, I am still going to finish this series on science and religion. I will post a summary of chapters 2-3 and discuss them in detail.
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