Bridger Ehli’s paper “Locke, Simplicity and Extension” is forthcoming in Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie.
Abstract from PHilPapers:
This paper aims to clarify Locke’s distinction between simple and complex ideas. I argue that Locke accepts what I call the “compositional criterion of simplicity.” According to this criterion, an idea is simple just in case it does not have another idea as a proper part. This criterion is prima facie inconsistent with Locke’s view that there are simple ideas of extension. I argue that Locke’s theory of sensible points allows him to defuse this objection.