Definition of "Tabula Rasa"

"Tabula rasa" is a Latin phrase with origins dating back to the early days of philosophy. Today, tabula rasa is used in various ways on television, in video games, on the Internet, and in books. It shapes a philosophy about the true nature of human beings and takes sides in the age-old argument of "nature vs. nurture."

Definition

Tabula rasa is a Latin phrase meaning "clean slate" (Dictionary.com). It can be used to refer to someone whose mind is similar to a clean slate, meaning that it is free of misconceptions or previous notions. It can also be used in general to identify a situation where no precedent exists, or where something exists in its purest form or state.

Philosophical Background

Philosopher John Locke wrote "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding," published in 1689. In this essay, he wrote about how the human mind is a tabula rasa at birth. According to Stanford University, "Book I [of Locke's essay] argues that we have no innate knowledge. So, at birth, the human mind is a sort of blank slate on which experience writes." This tabula rasa theory advocates that our experiences shape who we become.

Psychological Background

Sigmund Freud used the concept of tabula rasa in his theories on psychoanalysis (Webster's Online Dictionary). In examining a patient's personality, Freud concluded that the patient's life experiences and upbringing factored largely in that person's development. In using this theory, Freud advocated nurture over nature.

Modern Uses

The phrase "tabula rasa" has become part of regular vocabulary. It is the title of a video game by Richard Garriott, and it is also the title of an art magazine published in the United Kingdom. In the video game, the idea seems to be that the player's experiences will shape his knowledge of how to defeat the game. In the case of the art magazine, the idea of a clean slate seems to represent the blank canvas on which the art is created.

Personal Implications

If you believe the theory of tabula rasa, then you believe that you can change who you are by changing what you do. In this ideology, a person can alter his inherent nature by creating positive experiences for himself. The person who experiences tragedy can overcome that tragedy through choice; a person with a difficult childhood can become a successful adult.