John Locke: Life And Philosophy

This paper examines the works, life and writings of most influential philosopher named John Locke. John Locke was an English philosopher and his works relates to the concepts of epistemology and ontology, politics, morality and religion. This research essay examines the huge knowledge about John Locke’s life and work which he did throughout his life period who dominates hims as a great philosopher. This paper starts with the introduction about John Locke by exploring his background and ends with his different writings which he did in different the areas of epistemology, ontology, politics and morality.

John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington (England). John Locke was belonging to puritan tradition and he believes in parlimentary faith in the sovereignty of the people.John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who is considered to be one of the first philosophers of the Enlightenment and the father of classical liberalism.

Firstly, he went in school in 1647 named Westminster school. This school help him to his upbringings due to Royalist traditions. He educated in this school in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. “In 1652 he became a Junior Student (or scholar) of Christ Church, Oxford, where he read the usual course of rhetoric, logic and grammar. After his BA (1665) he went on to history, natural philosophy, Hebrew and Arabic. The tradition of his college and especially his friendship with Pocock, the Oriental scholar, swung him further towards the Royalist cause, and he welcomed the restoration of Charles II in 1660. On taking his MA in 1658 he became a Senior Student (or fellow) of Christ Church and later Reader in Greek (1660) and in Rhetoric (1662) and finally Censor of Moral philosophy” (Mabbott, 1973)

In between the years of 1660 and 1663 he gave his first philosopher philosophical views on essays on powers of the magistrate and on natural law in morals and theology. In power Locke focuses besides the ideas of substance, the idea which gives trouble to empiricists is that of because which Locke discussed under the concept of power. John Locke told that use of power is wider than the cause under this concept. Locke concludes that our idea of power may have a place among our simple ideas. This is clearly inconsistent, and the arguments in its favour – that all our simple ideas include relations – is mistaken. The motive for this inconsistency is his recognition that powers make up so great a part of complex ideas of natural substances’” (Mabott, 1973). In the writings about theology and Region he gave arguments about the existence of God. Locke argues that the idea of God is not innate. “Locke attributers the existence along with infinite power and knowledge to God he is claiming certainly that God exists” (Mabott, 1973)

After writing on religion and theology Locke went to abroad in year 1665 as secretary of Sir wWatler Vane’s mission. There he tookhad his first taste of political life as secretary. Unfortunately, his mission failed and, but he was much impressed with religious peace and tolerance in contrast with the English scene. (Mabott, 1973). In 1666 Locke was introduced to Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, later 1st earl of Shaftesbury, by a mutual acquaintance. As a member and eventually the leader of a group of opposition politicians known as the Whigs, Ashley was one of the most powerful figures in England in the first two decades after the Restoration. Ashley was so impressed with Locke at their first meeting that in the following year he asked him to join his London household in Exeter House in the Strand as his aide and personal physician, though Locke did not then have a degree in medicine. Politically, Ashley stood for constitutional monarchy, a Protestant succession, civil liberty, toleration in religion, the rule of Parliament, and the economic expansion of England. Locke either shared or soon came to share all these objectives with him, and it was not long before a deep—and for each an important—mutual understanding existed between them. Locke drafted papers on toleration, possibly for Ashley to use in parliamentary speeches. In his capacity as a physician, Locke was involved in a remarkable operation to insert a silver tube into a tumour on Ashley’s liver, which allowed it to be drained on a regular basis and relieved him of much pain. It remained in place for the remainder of Ashley’s life. Locke also found a suitable bride for Ashley’s son. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

In 1666 Locke decided his future by met with Lord Ashley. This became the most interesting turning point in his life when he met with him because without him there will no writing possible. Anthony Ashley Cooper was a personal physician. Locke worked as a tutor in Ashley ‘s home by giving learning to his son. After this Ashley invited him in London at his residence where Locke stayed for the period of eight years from 1667 to 1675. “ Ashley ‘s powerful personality , keen mind and forward looking outlook probably did much to strengthen and extend to Locke’s maturing liberalism, not least by adding an economic dimension to it”( Locke& Nidditch ,1975) There Locke write the writings about natural philosophy and herbal medicines. In moral philosophy in which Locke aims to explore the knowledge about moral aspects. “In all his writings Locke assumes as a fundamental principle that man knows enough to and live a good and righteous life if he chooses. His faculties are well suited for moral knowledge. But the moral knowledge of the ordinary man, although it is enough for his needs, is not exact. And the question which must face is this: Is a science of morality possible which is comparable to the science of mathematics? Can one build a necessary, eternally true, system of morals? The essay returns an affirmative answer. A science of moral is possible” (Aaron, 1971) Locke thinks it is possible and desirable, he does not furnish us such as science.

In 1671 Locke wrote two drafts of the Essay Concerning Human Understanding in which he examines the extent and limitation of human knowledge. In first edition of his writings in essay he elaborates the moral theory or the law of nature in which he discussed the basic principle of morals. “Though the Essay Concerning Human Understanding originated in a discussion about the principles of morality and revealed religion, in which Locke and five or six of his friends ‘found themselves at a stand by the difficulties that arose on every side” His essay does not give brief understanding about these difficulties. The Essay concerning Human Understanding briefly discussed the topics of origin of knowledge, God, space, opinion.

In 1672 Locke was appointed for Escclesiastical presentations then secretary of council until 1675 when he became ill and went to France. In 1679 he went back to England and he completed two Treaties of Civil Government. Out of this context emerged Locke’s major work in political philosophy, Two Treatises of Government (1689). Although scholars disagree over the exact date of its composition, it is certain that it was substantially composed before Locke fled to Holland. In this respect the Two Treatises was a response to the political situation as it existed in England at the time of the exclusion controversy, though its message was of much more lasting significance.

“The first Treaties was a refutation of the defence of absolute monarchy by Sir Robert Filmier, a defence based on the domination given by God to Adam. This Treatise, written with great spirit and vigour, though as usual at inordinate length, is an effective piece of destructive argument. The right to rule by descent from Adam’s first grant could not be supported by any historical record or any other evidence, and any contract that God and Adam entered into would not be binding on remote descendants thousands of years later, even if a line of descent could be identified. His refutation was widely accepted as decisive, and in any event the theory of the divine right of kings ceased to be taken seriously in England after 1688.

But it is now of purely historical interest and need not concern us further. In the second treatise (specifically entitled of civil Government), however, is one of the most influential works on political theory even written, ranking with the work of Rousseau and Marx” (Locke& Nidditch, 1975) In two Treatises of civil government Locke concentrated on political theory. In his major work Two Treatises of Government Locke rejects the idea of the divine right of kings, supports the idea of natural rights (especially of property), and argues for a limited constitutional government which would protect individual rights.

Behind this writing Locke’s aim was to justify political slavery, privilege and oppression. From Locke’s consideration about politics it is always everywhere and, that a ruler who has lost the confidence of his people no longer has the right to govern them. The main purpose of Two Treatises of Civil Government was to take the view of political community and government. “The first was the theory of the divine right of kings as put forward by Robert Filmer, that the king is the divinely ordained father of his people, and that the relation between king and subject is precisely the same as that between father and the child. Locke ridicules the comparison. In the modern state, a large, a highly complex organisation, parental or patriarchal government is no longer possible, and the claim that is divinely ordained cannot be substantiated. The second theory, implicit no doubts in Filmer, is to find in its most explicit form in the works of Hobbes, although Locke does not refer to Hobbes by name, at least in the Treatise. Government, in this theory, necessarily involves the complete subjection of the governed to the absolute will of the governor, for without such subjection no civil society is possible” (Aaron, 1971)

In 1685 he wrote this draft of Essay Concerning Human Understanding which was his great work in his writings, and it was completed in 1686. Through his works epistemology and ontology is considered under his great achievements. In epistemology Locke emphasis representative theory of perception as he thoughts humans perceive ideas. Locke focuses on that knowledge of external world is not based on reflecting on ideas and not relates to inference or reasoning, but it is achieved through sensory experience. Locke’s discussion of knowledge of the external world brings us to many central themes of his philosophy. Locke gave the clear distinction between knowledge and mere probable opinion and belief through epistemology. (Ayers, 1993) “Locke’s last completed book was the Studious paraphrase and notes on the epistles of St. Paul, this was published posthumously (1705-7), as was a collection of other posthumous works (1706), of which the most substantial item was ‘of the conduct of the understanding’, edited from highly amended manuscript which Locke had for some years being trying to finalize for incorporating as a very long additional chapter into the essay” (Locke& Nidditch, 1975).

Locke assumed in Holland with the name of ‘Dr van Linden’. There he made friends with Limborch to whom and the sect of Remonstrates he owned owed much of his thoughts in religion and ontology. After this period Locke faced illness with many health problems. His health problems became more worse in the age of 54 although he was suffering with these from his adult age. The reason behind his health issues was because of poor Aair quality of London as he was living there from several years After a lengthy period of poor health, he died while Damaris read him the Bible. He was buried in High Laver church. He died in 28 October 1704 after suffering health problems.

As a final comment on his achievement, it may be said that, in many ways, to read Locke’s works is the best available introduction to the intellectual environment of the modern Western world. His faith in the salutary, ennobling powers of knowledge justifies his reputation as the first philosopher of the Enlightenment. In a broader context, he founded a philosophical tradition, empiricism, that would span three centuries. His influence remains strongly felt in the West, as the notions of mind, freedom, and authority continue to be challenged and explored. (Graham AJ Rogers)

Finally, it can be revealed that John Locke emit a massive significant on the world of philosophy by providing huge writings in the areas of epistemology and ontology. He also worked in the areas of Religion, morality and politics by giving their arguments on it. Locke’s works inspired the people in modern era in the areas of politics, religion, epistemology and ontology. Locke’s works are considered as a great contribution in the world of philosophy and her approaches are unforgettable which he did though out his life.

Bibliography

1. Mabbott. (1973). John Locke. London: Macmillan, 1973. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.cnc.bc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05883a&AN=ncl.540&site=eds-live&scope=site
2. Aaron. (1971). John Locke. Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1971. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.cnc.bc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05883a&AN=ncl.539&site=eds-live&scope=site
3. Ayers, M. (1993). Locke : epistemology and ontology. London ; New York : Routledge, 1993. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.cnc.bc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05883a&AN=ncl.85205&site=eds-live&scope=site
4. Locke, J., & Nidditch, P. H. (1975). An essay concerning human understanding. Oxford : Clarendon Press; New York : Oxford University Press, 1979. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.cnc.bc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05883a&AN=ncl.71633&site=eds-live&scope=site