The blank slate theory suggests that humans are born without thoughts or ideas, gaining them only through exposure to society. The concept of tabula rasa has been around for centuries, but recent scientific discoveries challenge the idea, suggesting genetic factors shape some characteristics of the human mind.
Blank slate is a philosophical term for a theoretical state of mind existing in infantile humans. It is related to the Latin term tabula rasa, referring to an unmarked writing surface. According to the theory, humans are born completely free of thoughts or ideas, gaining them only after exposure to family and society. The idea of the tabula rasa has been around for at least 1,000 years, but is most identified with the 17th century philosopher John Locke. Recent scientific discoveries have challenged the idea, suggesting that genetic factors shape some characteristics of the human mind.
The Latin term tabula rasa is generally translated as tabula rasa, although a more accurate translation would be cleared slate. Before paper was widely available, people in many societies made writing tablets from a mineral called slate. The marks on these tablets, also called slates, could be erased so that the tablet could be reused. In ancient Rome, these tablets were sometimes covered in wax, which was heated to remove the marks for reuse. These objects give Modern English the expressions clean slate and blank slate.
The concept of a tabula rasa in human intelligence was first advocated by the 10th-century Islamic philosopher Ibn Sina, better known as Avicenna. Avicenna proposed that the human mind at birth was pure potential, without form or content. This idea conflicted with the prevailing belief in European philosophy of the time, that a human child was inhabited at birth by a pre-existing soul. Aside from a few philosophers, the idea was largely ignored for the next 10 years.
The phrase tabula rasa was first recorded in English in 1607. Toward the end of the same century, the British philosopher John Locke published his influential treatise, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Locke proposed that the human mind at birth is empty of ideas, thoughts or personalities, all of which are added to by subsequent experience, education and observation. Locke’s ideas were highly influential in the following centuries. When Sigmund Freud developed his ideas on psychology in the 1890s, he proposed that human personality is formed entirely by early childhood experiences of an otherwise blank slate mind.
Scientific discoveries of the 20th century challenged many tenets of the whiteboard theory. Studies in brain science and psychology have shown that many traits, such as sexuality, emotions, and even language skills, can be influenced by genetic factors. Other studies suggest that a framework for personality may exist at birth, even though the actual personality is only formed later. Psychologist Stephen Pinker’s 2002 book The Blank Slate compiles many of these theories, presenting a challenge to the idea of the clean slate. The concept of tabula rasa remains the subject of heated discussions and debates among scientists and philosophers.
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