John LockeJohn Locke

(1632-1704)

► John Locke was born on John Locke was born on August 29, 1632August 29, 1632 in Wrington, a village in Somerset, in Wrington, a village in Somerset,

England. England. He was baptized the same day. Soon He was baptized the same day. Soon

after Locke's birth, the family moved after Locke's birth, the family moved toto the market townthe market town  of of Pensford .Pensford .

Locke grew up in a Locke grew up in a rural rural TudorTudor  househouse in in Belluton.Belluton.

John Locke’s ParentsJohn Locke’s Parents ►Locke's father, who was also named Locke's father, who was also named

John Locke, John Locke, was a was a country lawyer country lawyer and and clerkclerk to the to the

Justices of the Peace in Chew Magna,Justices of the Peace in Chew Magna, served as a served as a captain of cavalry for the captain of cavalry for the

Parliamentarian forcesParliamentarian forces during the during the early part of the English Civil War.early part of the English Civil War.

►His mother, Agnes Keene, was a His mother, Agnes Keene, was a tanner's daughter and reputed to be tanner's daughter and reputed to be very beautiful.very beautiful.

►Both parents wereBoth parents were  Puritans.Puritans.

Education, Writings and Education, Writings and WorksWorks

► In 1646 (14), he went to Westminster In 1646 (14), he went to Westminster school.school. (sponsored by Alexander (sponsored by Alexander

Popham)Popham)►Westminster school armsWestminster school arms

In 1652 (20), to Christ Church in In 1652 (20), to Christ Church in Oxford.Oxford.

Christ Church in Oxford.Christ Church in Oxford.

►One of the largest constituent colleges One of the largest constituent colleges of the university of Oxford in England.of the university of Oxford in England.

►Produced 13 British Prime Ministers.Produced 13 British Prime Ministers.►Setting For parts of:Setting For parts of:

Brides head revisitedBrides head revisited Alice Adventures in WonderlandAlice Adventures in Wonderland Harry PotterHarry Potter Northern LightsNorthern Lights The Golden Compass.The Golden Compass.

►In 1656 (24), Locke awarded In 1656 (24), Locke awarded bachelor’s degree.bachelor’s degree.

►1658 (26), a master’s degree.1658 (26), a master’s degree.

►In 1659 (27) he was elected to a In 1659 (27) he was elected to a senior studentship, and tutored at senior studentship, and tutored at the college for a number of years. the college for a number of years.

►Still, contrary to the curriculum, Still, contrary to the curriculum, he complained that he would he complained that he would rather be studying Descartes rather be studying Descartes than Aristotle.than Aristotle.

►Then, pursued at other Then, pursued at other universities and in universities and in The Royal The Royal Society.Society.

►In 1666In 1666, he met Lord , he met Lord Anthony Anthony Ashley Cooper , 1st Earl of Ashley Cooper , 1st Earl of ShaftsburyShaftsbury who had come to Oxford who had come to Oxford seeking treatment for seeking treatment for a a liver infection.liver infection.

►Cooper was impressed with Locke and Cooper was impressed with Locke and persuaded him to become part of his persuaded him to become part of his retinue.retinue.

►In 1667, Locke moved into In 1667, Locke moved into Shaftesbury's home at Exeter Shaftesbury's home at Exeter House in LondonHouse in London to serve as Lord Ashley's to serve as Lord Ashley's

personal physician. personal physician. ►In London, Locke resumed his In London, Locke resumed his

medical studies under the medical studies under the tutelage oftutelage of  Thomas Sydenham.Thomas Sydenham. Sydenham had a major effect on Sydenham had a major effect on

Locke's natural philosophical Locke's natural philosophical thinking thinking – – An Essay Concerning An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.Human Understanding.

►Locke studied medicine withLocke studied medicine with Sydenham,Sydenham, one of the most notable one of the most notable English physicians of the 17th century. English physicians of the 17th century. His skills in medicine led to an His skills in medicine led to an accidental encounter with Lord Ashley accidental encounter with Lord Ashley (later to become the Earl of (later to become the Earl of Shaftesbury) in1666, which would Shaftesbury) in1666, which would mark a profound change in his career.mark a profound change in his career.

►Locke became a member of Locke became a member of Shaftesbury's household and assisted Shaftesbury's household and assisted him in business, political and domestic him in business, political and domestic matters. matters.

► In 1672, the Earl of Shaftesbury's In 1672, the Earl of Shaftesbury's was made Lord Chancellor and Locke was made Lord Chancellor and Locke become his become his secretary secretary to the board of to the board of trade until 1675, helping to shape his trade until 1675, helping to shape his ideas on international trade and ideas on international trade and economics.economics.

► In 1668, he was elected a fellow of In 1668, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.the Royal Society.

►1674 (42), he finally graduated as a 1674 (42), he finally graduated as a bachelor of medicine. bachelor of medicine.

► In 1675, he was appointed to a In 1675, he was appointed to a medical studentship at the college. medical studentship at the college.

►He owned a home in Oxford until He owned a home in Oxford until 1684, until his studentship was taken 1684, until his studentship was taken from him by royal mandate.from him by royal mandate.

► Robert Boyle, the leader of the Oxford Robert Boyle, the leader of the Oxford scientific group, was Locke's mentor.scientific group, was Locke's mentor.

► Boyle's mechanical philosophy saw the Boyle's mechanical philosophy saw the world as reducible to matter in motion. world as reducible to matter in motion. Locke learned about atomism and took the termsLocke learned about atomism and took the terms

““Primary and Secondary qualitiesPrimary and Secondary qualities".".

► Both Boyle and Locke, along with Newton, Both Boyle and Locke, along with Newton, were members of the English Royal Society. were members of the English Royal Society.

► In 1688, Locke became friends with Newton In 1688, Locke became friends with Newton after he had studied Newton's after he had studied Newton's Principia Principia Mathematica Philosophiae NaturalisMathematica Philosophiae Naturalis..

► It was Locke's work with the Oxford It was Locke's work with the Oxford scientists that gave him a critical scientists that gave him a critical perspective when reading Descartes.perspective when reading Descartes.

►Locke admired Descartes as an Locke admired Descartes as an alternative to the Aristotelianism alternative to the Aristotelianism dominant at Oxford. dominant at Oxford.

►Descartes' “Descartes' “Way of IdeasWay of Ideas" was a " was a major influence on Locke's major influence on Locke's An Essay An Essay Concerning Human Concerning Human UnderstandingUnderstanding..

►Locke's ideasLocke's ideas on freedom of on freedom of religion and the rights of citizensreligion and the rights of citizens were considered a challenge to the were considered a challenge to the King's authority by the English King's authority by the English government government

►… … and in 1682 Locke went into exile and in 1682 Locke went into exile in Holland.in Holland.

► It was in Holland that he It was in Holland that he completed completed An Essay Concerning An Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingHuman Understanding..

►The English government tried to have The English government tried to have Locke, along with a group of English Locke, along with a group of English revolutionaries with whom he was revolutionaries with whom he was associated, extradited to England.associated, extradited to England.

►Locke's position at Oxford was taken Locke's position at Oxford was taken from him in 1684.from him in 1684.

► In 1685, while Locke was still in Holland, In 1685, while Locke was still in Holland, Charles II died and was succeeded by James Charles II died and was succeeded by James II who was eventually overthrown by rebels. II who was eventually overthrown by rebels. William of Orange was invited to bring a William of Orange was invited to bring a

Dutch force to EnglandDutch force to England while James II went into exile in France. while James II went into exile in France.

Known as the Glorious Revolution of Known as the Glorious Revolution of 1688.1688.

This event marks the change in the This event marks the change in the dominant power in English government dominant power in English government from King to Parliament.from King to Parliament.

► In 1688 Locke return to England on the In 1688 Locke return to England on the same ship that carried Princess Mary to join same ship that carried Princess Mary to join her husband William.her husband William.

►Locke concerned not only in Locke concerned not only in Epistemology but with Politics as well.Epistemology but with Politics as well.

►Early 1680’s,Early 1680’s,  Two Treatises of Civil Two Treatises of Civil GovernmentGovernment   Locke’s written while Locke’s written while WhigWhig revolutionary plots against revolutionary plots against Charles II were still in the works.Charles II were still in the works.

►TheThe first treatisefirst treatise is an attack on Sir is an attack on Sir Robert Filmer and his Robert Filmer and his text text PatriarchaPatriarcha (1680), which he  (1680), which he wrote in defense of divine monarchy.wrote in defense of divine monarchy.

► Locke uses this critique to launch his Locke uses this critique to launch his criticism of the work of Thomas criticism of the work of Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes.

►In theIn the Second TreatiseSecond Treatise Locke Locke states his theory states his theory of natural law and of natural law and natural right,natural right, revealing a rational revealing a rational purpose to government.purpose to government.

►Locke felt that the public welfare Locke felt that the public welfare made government necessary and made government necessary and was the test of good government, was the test of good government, and he always defended the and he always defended the government as an institution.government as an institution.

►This work is aThis work is a theory of natural law theory of natural law andand rightsrights in which he makes a in which he makes a distinction betweendistinction between legitimate and legitimate and illegitimateillegitimate civil governments and civil governments and argues for the legitimacy of revolution argues for the legitimacy of revolution against tyrannical governments. against tyrannical governments.

►He saw that the reason of He saw that the reason of government established is togovernment established is to protect protect the life, libertythe life, liberty and and property of a property of a people.people. … … and if these goals are not respected, and if these goals are not respected,

then rebellion is entirely permissible by then rebellion is entirely permissible by the population who originally consented the population who originally consented to the government's power.to the government's power.

► In 1690 Locke was also able to publishIn 1690 Locke was also able to publish  An EssayAn Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingConcerning Human Understanding,, working on working on since 1671 (19). since 1671 (19).

► In this book he establishes the principles of In this book he establishes the principles of modern Empiricism, and attacks the rationalist modern Empiricism, and attacks the rationalist concept ofconcept of innate ideasinnate ideas.. Drawing on earlier Drawing on earlier writings by Chillingworth in which human writings by Chillingworth in which human understanding is said to be limited, Locke sets out understanding is said to be limited, Locke sets out to determine these limits. to determine these limits.

► He writes that He writes that we can be certain that God existswe can be certain that God exists, , and be as certain of mortality as we are of and be as certain of mortality as we are of mathematics, because we create moral and mathematics, because we create moral and political ideas. He states that we cannot, however, political ideas. He states that we cannot, however, know the underlying realities of natural know the underlying realities of natural substances, as we can only know their substances, as we can only know their appearance. appearance.

► He imagined that the human mind begins as a He imagined that the human mind begins as a ""tabula rasatabula rasa,"," and that we learn by our and that we learn by our experience.experience.

►The new government of England The new government of England offered Lockeoffered Locke the post of ambassador the post of ambassador to Berlin or Viennato Berlin or Vienna in recognition of his in recognition of his part in the revolution, however Locke part in the revolution, however Locke declined the honorable position.declined the honorable position.

► In 1689 (57), he became In 1689 (57), he became commissioner of appeals commissioner of appeals

► In 1691(59), Locke responded to In 1691(59), Locke responded to financial difficulties in the financial difficulties in the government by publishing government by publishing Some Some Considerations of the Consequences Considerations of the Consequences of Lowering of Interestof Lowering of Interest, and Raising , and Raising the Value of Money. the Value of Money.

► In 1693 (61), he published In 1693 (61), he published Some Some Thoughts Concerning EducationThoughts Concerning Education..

►and in 1695 (63) and in 1695 (63) Further Further ConsiderationsConsiderations on the topic of  on the topic of money.money.

►and from 1696 to 1700 acted as and from 1696 to 1700 acted as commissioner of trade and commissioner of trade and plantations.plantations.

► In 1695, In 1695, The Reasonableness of The Reasonableness of ChristianityChristianity. He was later inspired to . He was later inspired to write two Vindications of this last write two Vindications of this last work in response to some criticism. work in response to some criticism.

►Locke invested a great deal of Locke invested a great deal of energy in theology in his later years, energy in theology in his later years, and among his work published post and among his work published post mortem are commentaries on the mortem are commentaries on the Pauline epistles,Pauline epistles, a a Discourse on MiraclesDiscourse on Miracles a fragment of the a fragment of the Fourth Letter for Fourth Letter for

ToleratioToleratio and and An Examination of Father An Examination of Father

Malebranche's Opinion of Seeing all Malebranche's Opinion of Seeing all things in Godthings in God

► In his final years he lived in the In his final years he lived in the country at Oates in Essexcountry at Oates in Essex at the home of Sir Francis and Lady at the home of Sir Francis and Lady

Masham (Damaris Cudworth).Masham (Damaris Cudworth).

►Locke had met Cudworth in 1682, a Locke had met Cudworth in 1682, a philosopher and daughter of the philosopher and daughter of the Cambridge Platonist Ralph Cudworth.Cambridge Platonist Ralph Cudworth.

►They had an intellectual and They had an intellectual and amorous relationship, which was cut amorous relationship, which was cut short by Locke's exile in Holland.short by Locke's exile in Holland.

►Cudworth had married Sir Francis Cudworth had married Sir Francis Masham in Locke's absence, yet she Masham in Locke's absence, yet she and Locke remained close friends. and Locke remained close friends.

►Before his death, Locke saw four Before his death, Locke saw four more editions of more editions of An Essay An Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingConcerning Human Understanding  

►… … And He Rest In Peace at Oates in And He Rest In Peace at Oates in Essex on October 28, 1704 (72 yrs. Essex on October 28, 1704 (72 yrs. Old).Old).