Political Essays

by John Locke, Mark Goldie (Editor)

This book brings together a comprehensive collection of the writings of one of the greatest philosophers in the Western tradition. Along with five of John Locke's major essays, seventy shorter essays are included that stand outside the canonical works that Locke published during his lifetime. For the first time students will be able to fully explore the evolution of Locke's ideas concerning the philosophical foundations of morality and sociability, the boundary of church and state, the shaping of constitutions, and the conduct of government and public policy.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Nonfiction, History

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

John Locke was an English philosopher. He is considered the first of the British Empiricists, but is equally important to social contract theory. His ideas had enormous influence on the development of epistemology and political philosophy, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. This influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence.

Locke's theory of mind is often cited as the origin for modern conceptions of identity and "the self", figuring prominently in the later works of philosophers such as David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. Locke was the first Western philosopher to define the self through a continuity of "consciousness." He also postulated that the mind was a "blank slate" or "tabula rasa"; that is, contrary to Cartesian or Christian philosophy, Locke maintained that people are born without innate ideas.

Reviews

[Danmcgohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very difficult reading. Did 17th century people really talk like this was written?
Some sentences were longer than one whole page. Treatise of Civil Government was one one bedrocks for our founding fathers forming our new government. I really marvel at Locke's inquiring mind. He as questions and proceeds to give their answers to things I would never dream of. Truly a great mind! Only gave four star rating because of difficulty...my problem.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a year and a half I was immersed in the political works of John Locke. He is a true master and a great political philosopher help someone jump into the field. I truly enjoyed these essays and this edition.