Locke

John <strong>Locke</strong> 16321704 was one of the towering philosophers of theEnlightenment and arguably the greatest English philosopher. Many assumptionswe ... » 

John Locke 16321704 was one of the towering philosophers of theEnlightenment and arguably the greatest English philosopher. Many assumptionswe now take for granted about liberty knowledge and government come fromLocke and his most influential works An Essay Concerning Human Understandingand Two Treatises of Government.In this superb introduction to Lockes thought EJ Lowe covers all the majoraspects of his philosophy. Whilst sensitive to the Seventeenth centurybackground to Lockes thought he concentrates on introducing and assessingLocke in a contemporary philosophical setting explaining why he is soimportant today.Beginning with a helpful overview of Lockes life and times he explains howLocke challenged the idea that the human mind and knowledge of the externalworld rested on innate principles laying the philosophical foundations ofempiricism later taken up Berkeley and Hume.Subsequent chapters introduce and critically assess topics fundamental tounderstanding Locke his theories of substance and identity language andmeaning philosophy of action and free will and political freedom andtoleration. In doing so he explains some of the more complex yet pivotalaspects of Lockes thought such as his theory that language rests on ideas andhow Lockes theory of personal identity paved the way for modern empiricalpsychology. A final chapter assesses Lockes legacy and the book includes ahelpful chronology of Lockes life and glossary of unfamiliar terms.Ideal for those coming to Locke for the first time in any discipline EJ Loweprovides a stimulating and lucid introduction to this widelystudiedphilosopher. «