Seminar Paper on John Locke

John Locke: 1632-1704 was a hugely influential writer, and is considered to be the first Empricist, claiming that the mind is like a blank slate at birth. Empiricism is the theory of knowledge that believes that knowledge comes from experience, unlike philosophers such as Descartes who believed in innate ideas. Believers of innate ideas believe that the mind is born with knowledge and ideas. “Epitome to the Treatise” printed in 1688 was condemned by many people because it denied innate ideas.
Locke was born and baptised on 29th August in Wrington, Somerset, about 10 miles away from my home town of Weston-super-Mare.
Locke’s father, also named John, worked in the Parliamentary Army against the royalists during the civil war, and fled to Holland in 1683 after the Rye House Plot to assassinate King Charles II and his brother James. Locke was concerned about James II coming to the throne, and so stayed in the Netherlands until the Glorious Revolution. This was when James II was overthrown by Parliamentarians and William of Orange, who took the throne.
Quote: “The commonwealth of learning is not at this time without master-builders, whose mighty designs, in advancing the sciences, will leave lasting monuments to the admiration of posterity: but every one must not hope to be a Boyle or a Sydenham; and in an age that produces such masters as the great Huygenius and the incomparable Mr. Newton, with some others of that strain, it is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little, and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way to knowledge”
Locke knew all these men and their work, therefore, describing himself as an “under-labourer” may not just be him being modest but also may be the contrast between their positive achievements, and his own personal attempts to show the inadequacies of other Philosophers, such as Aristotle and Socrates.
The Essay originated in 1671 when, as Locke mentions, a group of five or six friends met to discuss a point in philosophy. Difficulties arose and Locke proposed a prior inquiry: ‘to examine our own abilities, and see what objects our understanding were, or werenot, fitted to deal with’
John Locke is a very modest man. In the beginning of Epistle to the Reader he points out that this is not a “commendation” of his work, nor assume that because he enjoyed writing it, he too enjoys the finished product. He also comments further on that he is not ignorant because he has not extensively mentioned his good reputation. He also warns that the essay is purely made up of his thoughts, ideas and experiences, and that he did not publish the essay in order to be credited by scholars or other “masters of knowledge”. The Essay was published as Locke was persuaded that it would help others like himself. It is for this reason, Locke says, that he feels it necessary to make the information has “easy and intelligible” as possible...(Ha!)


After reading and scrutinizing this essay in order to write this paper, I have come to admire John Locke, as he has published this essay specifically to help others, and has aimed at truth and useful information. However, he also shows understanding that all people are different, and that his work will not please everyone, and those that are offended by his work can do what they want, because quite frankly, he doesn’t care, and would not waste his time having such a conversation with them.
As mentioned previously, Locke believes in Empiricism, that knowledge is gained from experience, and believed that the mind is the most important part in the soul, as it has the ability to acquire knowledge. “Every step the mind takes in its progress towards Knowledge makes some discovery”
Locke compares the mind to the eye, as only things we see can affect us, and please us, as the things we don’t see are unknown. Therefore the things we learn can please us, whereas we cannot regret knowledge we have not yet acquired, as it is unknown. Locke also points out that those of us who go beyond the norm to seek knowledge (as scientists, mathematicians etc did) will be rewarded for it, as he believes that knowledge causes feelings of pleasure. This is how he describes himself, as someone who has taken his thoughts and transferred them to paper. Perhaps originally only intended to be a series of note-taking has turned into one of Locke’s most influential works: An Essay of Human Understanding.
Locke also claims that those that follow other people’s thoughts are not following truth, suggesting that the search for knowledge is a personal experience.
As we have previously learnt, Descartes liked to be certain of things, without any doubt. Locke also follows this example, as he believes in everything he has mentioned in his works. He also states that he is liable to have made errors and mistakes, and that the book is not aimed at those who already have extensive knowledge of the subject, therefore may not be “new or instructive” as the text was originally written for Locke’s personal use for him and his friends. He supports this by commenting on how he would write parts of the book and then neglect it for long periods of time until he could be bothered to continue. It was not until his retirement that he finished the essay.
Locke says that writing in this way proved that some sections have too much information and others, too little. He at first assumed that his thoughts on the matter would only fill one sheet of paper, but his thoughts branched out and lead onto new discoveries. It would therefore have been possible to shorten the Essay, but Locke said he was now “too busy or too lazy”
Locke then goes on to comment on certain changes made in the different editions of his work, such as the Epitome of the Treatise, printed in 1688, was condemned by many people, without it even being read, as it denied innate ideas.