What distinguishes complex ideas from simple ideas according to Locke?

John Locke’s distinction between complex and simple ideas is central to his philosophy regarding the nature of knowledge and how we come to understand the world. Complex ideas are indeed constructed from simple ideas. Simple ideas, as defined by Locke, are the most basic units of thought that we receive through our senses and experiences, while complex ideas are more elaborate constructs that arise from mental processes involving these simpler components.

Locke explains that we derive complex ideas by combining simple ideas in various ways, such as through comparison, abstraction, or combination. This construction allows us to form concepts like beauty or justice, which are not directly apprehended through the senses but rather conceived through the mental organization of simpler sensory experiences. Hence, the key characteristic of complex ideas is that they are built upon the foundation of these simpler ideas, making the construction of knowledge a layered process.

This understanding is pivotal because it illustrates Locke’s empirical approach to knowledge—that our understanding of the world is not given a priori but is instead formulated through our experiences and the ideas we construct from them.