tabula rasa

the idea that at birth the mind is like a “blank tablet” (from Latin) and that all knowledge is subsequently derived from sensory experience. The notion of innate ideas is thus dismissed as a fiction. The phrase is mainly associated with John Locke, although he never in fact used it: Locke’s actual phrase was “white paper.” See empiricism.

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Psychology term of the day

April 30th 2024

humidity effects

the effects of the amount of moisture in the air on one’s perception of ambient temperature. High humidity makes hot weather uncomfortable because it diminishes the cooling efficiency of air movement to evaporate heat from the body.