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This book analyzes the foundation of human knowledge and understanding. Locke describes the mind at birth as a blank slate (tabula rasa) filled later through experience. The essay was one of the principal sources of empiricism in modern philosophy, and influenced many enlightenment philosophers, such as David Hume and George Berkeley. Book I of the Essay is Locke's attempt to refute the rationalist notion of innate ideas. Book II sets out his theory of ideas, including his distinction between passively acquired simple ideas, such as «red», «sweet», «round», etc., and actively built complex ideas, such as numbers, causes and effects, abstract ideas, ideas of substances, identity, and diversity. Book III is concerned with language and Book IV with knowledge, including intuition, mathematics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy («science»), faith, and opinion.
This essential volume features John Locke's hand-corrected text with an outstanding introduction to Locke's life and role in intellectual history, his principal works, and their purpose. Written by the editor, Richard Cox, the introduction also outlines the course of both treatises of government and analyzes the problems of interpretation. Also included are a list of the principal dates in the life of John Locke as well as a selected bibliography.
First published in 1689, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” is British philosopher John Locke’s important and influential exposition on the foundation of human knowledge and understanding. Arranged into four books, the first book begins by rejecting the notion of innate ideas proposed by Descartes and proposes instead that humans are born as blank slates. Book two argues that all knowledge is derived from experience and reflection. Locke also makes the argument for the existence of an intelligent creator or God. Book three addresses language and the unique ability that humans have to assign sounds to meanings and objects and then arrange those words into a language. Locke criticizes the careless use of language by some philosophers and how it can lead to confusion and misunderstanding. Book four is a detailed examination of human knowledge, intuition, mathematics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, faith, and opinion. Locke’s ideas were the basis for the philosophy of Empiricism, influenced the direction of modern philosophy, and inspired the work of other English thinkers, such as David Hume. A compelling and persuasive philosophical work, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” is a must read for all students of philosophy.
English Enlightenment philosopher John Locke has been called the “Father of Liberalism”. Following in the tradition of Sir Francis Bacon, he is one of the first British empiricists, which emphasizes the role of empirical evidence in the formation of ideas. His work would greatly influence other prominent political and literary figures including Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the founding fathers of the United States of America. Contained here in this volume is one of his most influential writings, the “Second Treatise of Government”. The “Second Treatise” is concerned with five specific themes in relation to government. Firstly Locke defines a state of nature in which people have perfect freedom in dealing with the affairs of their own person and property. Secondly he discusses conquest and slavery arguing that the conquest and enslavement of absolute monarchy is a violation of natural law. Thirdly he asserts that civil society exists to protect a fundamental right to property by which he means life, liberty, and estate. Fourthly he discusses his views on representative government which may take any form so long as it is representative in upholding the fundamental rights prescribed by natural law. Lastly he discusses the right to revolt against any government that denies the aforementioned rights. The arguments made in Locke’s “Second Treatise” greatly influenced both the American and French revolutions leading to the foundation of modern democracy.
First published anonymously in December 1689, John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government” are considered to be some of the most important works of political philosophy ever written. In the first treatise Locke disputes the divine right of monarchial rule principle that is put forth in the book “Patriarcha” by Sir Robert Filmer. The first treatise is in fact a sentence by sentence refutation of “Patriarcha.” Filmer asserts the idea that absolute authority over the world flows from the Biblical Adam and his ownership of the world and that the heir of Adam is the rightful inheritor of this authority. Locke dismisses this line of reasoning that authority flows from some divine lineage to the first man in favor of a system based on natural laws and consent of the people. In the second treatise Locke sets forth the basic principles of natural law that lay the foundation for basic human rights and the government of man. Also contained within this volume is the shorter work, “A Letter Concerning Toleration.” These works collectively represent some of the first and most important rejections of monarchial rule and helped to lay the foundation towards the representative governments that now dominate the Western world. This edition includes an introduction by Henry Morley and a biographical afterword.
A highly influential figure in the Age of Enlightenment in England and France, whose works helped inspire the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, John Locke was one of the most important political theorists in Western history. In The Second Treatise of Government, a major contribution to the principles underlying modern democracies, he achieved two objectives: refuting the concept of the divine right of monarchy, and establishing a theory of government based on the ultimate sovereignty of the people.In A Letter Concerning Toleration, composed as early as 1667 but not published for political reasons until 1689 — after the «Glorious Revolution» — Locke pleaded for religious tolerance on grounds similar to his argument for political freedom, i.e., that all men are by nature «free, equal, and independent,» and are entitled to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship. To help guarantee the latter freedom, Locke called for separation of church and state.The basis of social and political philosophy for generations, these works laid the foundation of the modern democratic state in England and abroad. Their enduring importance makes them essential reading for students of philosophy, history, and political science.
Laid out in four books, «An Essay Concerning Human Understanding» is John Locke's exposition on the foundation of human knowledge and understanding. In the first and second books Locke begins by rejecting the notion of innate ideas proposed by Descartes and proposes instead that humans are born as blank slates and that all knowledge is derived from experience. The discussion is continued in books three and four with a discussion of the theory as it relates to language, intuition, mathematics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, faith, and opinion. A compelling and important philosophical work, «An Essay Concerning Human Understanding» is a must read for all students of philosophy.
John Locke's «Two Treatises of Government» are considered to be some of the most important works of western philosophy ever written. In the first treatise Locke disputes the divine right of monarchial rule principle that is put forth in the book «Patriarcha» by Sir Robert Filmer. In the second treatise Locke sets forth the basic principles of natural law that lay the foundation for basic human rights and the government of man. Also contained within this volume is the shorter work, «A Letter Concerning Toleration.»
This comprehensive eBook presents the complete works or all the significant works – the Œuvre – of this famous and brilliant writer in one ebook – easy-to-read and easy-to-navigate: • Second Treatise of Government • An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume • An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Volume