Preview

Who Is John Locke's Empiricism

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
600 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Who Is John Locke's Empiricism
Locke, John
(1632-1704)
English philosopher, who founded the school of empiricism.
Locke was born in the village of Wrington, Somerset, on August 29, 1632. He was educated at the University of Oxford and lectured on Greek, rhetoric, and moral philosophy at Oxford from 1661 to 1664. In 1667 Locke began his association with the English statesman Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st earl of Shaftesbury, to whom Locke was friend, adviser, and physician. Shaftesbury secured for Locke a series of minor government appointments. In 1669, in one of his official capacities, In 1675, after the liberal Shaftesbury lost is power, Locke went to France. In 1679 he returned to England, but in view of his opposition to the Roman Catholicism favored by the English monarchy at that time, he soon found it expedient to return to France. From 1683 to 1688 he lived in Holland, and following the so-called Glorious Revolution of
…show more content…
The empiricist doctrine was first developed by the English philosopher sir Francis Bacon early in the 17th century, but Locke organized his ideas in an article in 1690 called Essay Concerning Human Understanding. He regarded the mind of a person at birth as a tabula rasa, a blank slate upon which experience brings knowledge, and did not believe in intuition or theories of instinct. Locke also held that all persons are born good, independent, and equal.

Political Theories
In his work Two Treatises of Government, written in 1690, John Locke attacked the theory of divine right of kings and the nature of the state. He also believed in religious freedom and in the separation of church and state. In Two Treatises of Government he argued that the power did and should not exist within the state but within the people. He continued to say that the state is "supreme," but only if it is bound by what he called "natural"

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Locke, J. and Laslett, P. (1988) Locke: Two Treatises of Government. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.…

    • 3361 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    AP Psych units 1-3

    • 7545 Words
    • 31 Pages

    In Brittain, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was fascinated by the human mind and it’s failings. Novum Organuum- our mind’s desire to perceive patterns in random events. John Locke (1632-1704) author of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, argued that the human mind at birth is a blank slate, which is then developed by experiences. Locke’s and Bacon’s ideas cooperatively formed empiricism, the idea that knowledge is based off of experience.…

    • 7545 Words
    • 31 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Locke believed that knowledge was only gained through worldliness. He told people that experiences caused them to learn. One famous this he argued is that, “at birth the mind is a tabula rasa”3. Tabula rasa translates to “clean slate”. Essentially, everyone is born without knowledge and over time they become wiser and smarter. This was revolutionary because previously no one had every stopped to think about how knowledge was gained other than schooling. Locke was the first to think that people were born without any knowledge. He emphasized the five senses as well. Humans fill their clean slate with ideas and experience in the world through their five senses. There are many varying definitions of knowledge, but John Locke is the most accurate. Locke defines knowledge as “the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy, of the ideas humans form”4. Since our knowledge is derived from our experiences, it means our knowledge is limited. Not everyone can know everything since not one single person can experience everything this earth has to offer in one lifetime. This also means that everyone’s knowledge varies and no two people have the same exact knowledge since everyone’s experiences are different. Locke also notes that there is a great deal of unknown on this world and there always will be. This observation still is true today because there is a great deal of uncertainty in today’s society. He is also still influential because he taught us to question those uncertain areas. As a continuation, he agrees that there are certain things that we are certain of. One example that Locke uses is the certainty of our own existence and the existence of God even tough we may not fully comprehend who or what he was5. Another very complex theory that he had relating to the idea of knowledge was our ideas are related to reality. He said that, “our ideas…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    What philosophies, thinkers, and documents most influenced the writers of the United States Constitution The writers of the United States constitution had many influences that assisted them in drafting our nations charter. Self- Governing was unknown by the authors, as they were collectively, from a world where people were ruled by monarchs. Planning Democracy takes practice and wisdom from experience from throughout history.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke, the political philosopher and naturalist wrote the two treatises of government in defense against armed resistance to the English King. Locke is interested in the political…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Locke was born on August 29th, 1632 in England and lived to became one of the most influential people in England and, perhaps, one of the most influential people of the 17th century. Before his death on October 28th, 1704 he would earn the title as the Father of liberal philosophy. His ideas would also be used as a keystone for the revolution of the North American colonies from England. Locke fled to Holland in 1683. He returned to England in about 1688 when William and Mary were to retake the reign of England in what historians call the "Bloodless Revolution". Locke returned to Oates in Essex where he retired. He lived there until his death in 1704.…

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    His theory of government by the consent of the governed as a means to protect"Life, liberty and estate" deeply influenced the United States' founding documents. His political theory of government by the consent of the governed as a means to protect "Life, liberty and estate" deeply influenced the United States' founding documents. Between 1652 and 1667, John Locke was a student and then lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, where he focused on the standard curriculum of logic, metaphysics and classics. In 1666 Locke met the parliamentarian Anthony Ashley Cooper, later the first Earl of Shaftesbury. The two struck up a friendship that blossomed into full patronage, and a year later Locke was appointed physician to Shaftesbury's household. For the next two…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke was an English philosopher in the seventeen century. He was considered as one of the most highly influential and important enlightenment thinkers of all history. He wrote about political philosophy, epistemology, and education. Locke's writings helped found modern Western philosophy and made an enormous impact. In 1690, he wrote “The Second Treatise,” which compromised an idea of society based on natural rights and contract theory. In this portion of work, he came up with revolutionary ideas that influenced numerous societies, including Americans. Locke’s arrogance completely shaped and helped our community through his thoughts of society and individual requirements so that America was an effective, successful country.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Philosopher John Locke changed the perspectives on government, through his book “Second Treatise on Civil Government”. In the book he writes, “(W)hen the government is dissolved, the people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative[lawmaking body].” Locke’s work was truly significant because he questioned the king which was a very risky thing to do. And without punishment he introduced the idea that the government is for the people and therefore should be ruled by the people.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locke’s views of on the church and state followed those of Martin Luther. Locke also insisted on liberty of conscience and creator/redeemer distinction. Locke also had a great influence on the United States, considering that Charles II enlisted him along with Lord Shaftsbury to draft a constitution for the new colony, Carolina.…

    • 3763 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Locke

    • 8282 Words
    • 36 Pages

    John Locke, an Englishman who lived from 1632 to 1704, promoted some of the most influential ideas of the Enlightenment. He pioneered the idea that humans are naturally good, and are corrupted by society or government to becoming deviant. Locke described this idea in hisAn Essay Concerning Human Understanding as the tabula rasa, a Latin phrase meaning blank slate. The idea was not original to him, however. In fact, Locke directly took the idea from a Muslim philosopher from the 1100s, Ibn Tufail. In Ibn Tufails book,Hayy ibn Yaqdhan, he describes an identical idea about how humans act as a blank slate, absorbing experiences and information from their surroundings. The same idea manifests itself in the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). He stated that No child is born except on the fitra. Fitra here can be defined as the natural, pure state of a person. According to Islamic thought, all humans are born in a natural state of purity, with belief in one God, and that as they grow older, they adopt the ideas and beliefs of the people around them, particularly their parents. This is the intellectual forerunner of the tabula rasa that Locke learned from Ibn Tufail. Hb(k/LT02goUXVTUsUyTUVFUP…

    • 8282 Words
    • 36 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke (1632-1704) is a Philosopher and Physician. He was known as one of the most affective Founding Father of Enlighten movement. Because of his past occupation, who used to persuade to become a doctor, he understood how people's lives, and what was the best form of government that they need. Locke's theories in the Second Treaty of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, and his State of Nature, for examples, have influenced people and government system with his belief of man's political nature that people have certain right in society and they willingly give up their highly valued autonomy in order to live peacefully and comfortable under one united government that enforces rules and regulation that protect its people…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke Paper

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In The Second Treatise of Government, Locke defines political power as the inalienable birthrights of man, and the need for the formation of a legitimate government. John Locke’s The Second Treatise of Government defines a legitimate government in relation to the protection of inalienable rights. He views a valid government as one, which upholds his three main natural laws of life, liberty and property. Locke insists that it is proper to make laws for the regulating and preserving of property, and the execution of such laws, and in the defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury. This is needed for the public good. Locke’s political power is the ability to uphold a constitution. Locke’s reasoning for the creation of a government arises in the need to protect life, liberty and justice. Locke concludes that the reason why men enter into society, is the preservation of their property. The protection of life, liberty and justice then becomes the reason for a new legislative. The value Locke places on property is only furthered in his discussion of the will of the people.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke is known as a great philosopher who helped create and shape the world as we know it. He was born on August 29, 1632, to his parents John Locke, and Agnes Kneene, in Wrington Somerset. His family was known as a liberal Puritan family. He went through different types of schooling throughout his time, while facing some challenges here and there (Clapp).…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His Essay on Human Understanding claimed the optimistic thought of tabula rasa, everyone is born with a blank slate. He also said that all ideas are derived from life experiences. John Locke also rejected the rule by divine right belief which led to new beliefs on ways to govern. In his essay he argued that sovereignty did not reside in the state but that it resided in the people. John Locke in his Second Treatise of Civil Government also spoke of natural rights of the people, which was extremely optimistic for the time. According to Locke, the three natural rights were life, liberty, and property. This optimistic belief meant that the monarchs had to give the people those three things. Locke also advocated the idea of a social contract in which the government serves the…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays