This term is coined on the idea that the mind in its original, uninformed state, before any learning begins. This concept is found in the philosophy of John Locke (1632–1704) and Jean‐Jacques Rousseau; but it is one which many educators do not accept, since it assumes that the mind is shaped solely by what is learned, and discounts the idea of individual predispositions or inherited characteristics. In this sense, it reflects the argument that nurture, not nature, is of predominant importance in shaping an individual's cognitive skills. The literal meaning of this Latin phrase is a (writing) tablet scraped clean (of writing), suggesting that a young pupil's mind is open to be shaped as the teacher wishes. As I claimed above, this is one concept that is very traditional in form and that not very much accepted by theorists in education as it does not consider formation and collection of prior knowledge.
Should this theory be true, the question is how does the process of learning take place? When the mind is completely blank before learning is to take place, it is incapable of comprehension and understanding. How is it therefore possible for the processing of learning? Second, when the concept is learned, the concept is stored in the mind which shall be ready to be reopened once the same topic or stimulus arouse in the future. Should the mind continue to be in a blank slate?
When we first develop learning and wisdom, the mind is filled with the so many experiences since the day we were born. These experiences shape how we are growing up and how we see and bring about our life. When these experiences are stocked in our mind it becomes an easy task to simply revisit and point out upcoming concepts and learning easily takes place. During the first stage of learning, this may be possible, but as we have grasped so many learning concepts already, I think this is not a true thought anymore.
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