JOHN LOCKE

1. JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)

2. Personal life Born on August 29 in Warrington, a village in Somerset, England Died in Essex on October 28, 1704 at the age of 72. Never got married and did not have any children. Went to university at the age of 15. He studied at the Westminster School and University of Oxford.

3. English philosopher and doctor, also trained in theology. One of the most significant Enlightenment thinkers as a physician and philosopher. Also known as the "Father of Classical Liberalism“ First philosopher to define self through the continuity of consciousness Wrote Two Treatises of Government which was best known for the theories of property and revolution within it. Composed an essay titled Essay Concerning Human Understanding

4. Delivered a series of lectures on natural law. Approached the idea that people are basically good and if someone acts badly it’s because of a bad instinct forced upon them. Decided all ideas and knowledge are acquired from experience. Ideas of freedom of religion and right of citizens were considered a challenge to the king’s authority. Believed a democratic* government would best serve the interest of the people. *Democratic= wealthy man electing the government

5. Most Important Points • Lock believed that people were basically good, and those who acted badly did so because of bad instinct forced upon them • He decided that all ideas and knowledge are acquired through experience Locke studied at Westminster School and University of Oxford. Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government that explained theories of property and revolution. Locke composed the Essay of Human Understanding.

6. Sources “Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.” –John Locke http://www.egs.edu/library/john-locke/biography/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke http://www.iep.utm.edu/locke/