The Truth Problem

[IV. v. 5] "...mental, wherein the ideas in our understandings are without the use of words put together, or separated by the mind, perceiving, or judging of their agreement, or disagreement... verbal propositions, which are words the signs of our ideas put together or separated in affirmative or negative sentences. By which way of affirming or denying, these signs, and truth consists in the putting together and separating."

Okay... a lot to take in at once, but I agree with Locke's approach to the propositions of receiving or figuring out the truth. Mental propositions are only ideas in our minds. They have no word value and we do not speak them. They are kept within our minds personally. Verbal propositions are ideas that we put into action with words or actions. I do not understand how these can help people to gain knowledge of truth, but I do see how they can help with everyday thinking and communication. Again, truth is something that is never reached.