LOCKE, John, English philosopher: b. Wrington, Somerset, 29 Aug. 1632; d. Oates, Essex, 28 Oct. 1704. He was the son of an at torney who became a captain in the Parlia mentary army. Locke was educated at West minster School and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was graduated and took his bachelor's degree in 1656; two years later took the degree of M.A. and entered upon the study of medi cine. He lectured at Oxford (1660-64) on Greek, rhetoric and philosophy, and during this period became interested in experimental phys ics, especially chemistry and meteorology, and in metaphysics showed a preference for study ing Descartes, although his own philosophy powerfully antagonizes that of the French master. Theology and politics, including diplomacy, also engaged his attention. At Ox ford before 1666 he is said to have practised medicine, in which, however, he was never graduated. As secretary to Sir Walter Vane, British envoy, he went in 1665 to Cleves, Prus sia, returning to Oxford in the following year, during which time he made the acquaintance of Lord Ashley, afterward 1st earl of Shaftes bury, became his family physician and secre tary_ under his natronage held various• offices.
and in 1682 accompanied him into exile to Hol land. Locke continued to reside abroad until 1689, when, after Revolution had been accom plished, he returned to England to become com missioner of appeals, His association with Lord Ashley, between whom and himself there was close intellectual sympathy, was stimulating to his genius, and it was in Ashley's house that Locke first planned the
As a philosopher Locke's place is usually fixed at the head of the English Sensational School, although this classification by no means does justice to his manysidedness as a thinker, and the term "sensationalism)) with its ordi nary connotations, is wholly inadequate for a correct representation either of his speculative inquiries or of those still less definable medita tions which led him profoundly to search the realms of ethics and of spiritual laws, in an en deavor to assign the relations and functions of these in the world of practical politics and that of instituted religion.. Of that sensationalist
school of which he is reputed to have been founder, it has been said with much pertinence that its ultimate conclusions are such as This calm and pious mind would have indignantly
The
Upon questions of government Locke was in the main a follower of Hobbes (q.v.) in so far as the latter regarded governmental author ity as something delegated by the subjects for the creation of the state, through a compact which carried in itself the principle of obliga tion. But he went far beyond Hobbes in the application of his views to the concrete affairs of politics. In 1689 a constitution for the Caro lina colonists was drafted by him, and was an evidence of his concern to put political philos ophy to practical service. (See ESSAY CONCERN ING THE HUMAN UNDERSTANDING). Besides the 'Essay,' his works•include letters 'Concerning Toleration) (1689) ; Treatises on Govern ment' (1690) ; 'Some Thoughts Concerning Education) (1693) ; 'The Reasonableness of Christianity' ; and a little book the Con duct of the Understanding,' posthumously pub lished. Frazer's edition of the 'Essay' (1894) is the most desirable. His philosophical writ ings have been published in various editions, Saint John's (1854 et seq.) being one of the most useful. Consult King, 'The Life of John Locke) (1829); Fox Bourne, Life of John Locke> (1876); Fowler, Locke' (1880); Frazer, 'Locke' (1890) ; Russell, 'The Philosophy of Locke' (1891); and Ueberweg Heinze, 'Grundriss der Geschichte der Philos ophic" (8th ed., 1896), where a more extended bibliography is to be found.