Locke+Biography

=__Biography__= John Locke (1632-1704) John Locke lived in the Enlightenment Period, and he was raised in a small providential home. He was born on August 9, 1632, in a small village called Warington located in the United Kingdom. His family had a middle-class social status. Locke's parents were Puritans which influenced much of his behavior and views on the world. His father was a lawyer but soon had to go to war; thus, Locke's father used his connections in the military to put John in "the elite Westminster School" (history.com).

Locke had a fantastic education due to his father's connection in the military, and his schooling had a direct influence on his life and personal philosophy. He began his education when he was fifteen at the Westminster School in 1646 where he was mentored by Richard Busby, who was the headmaster of the school. Busby pushed Locke to help him think for himself and know "there were always two sides to a story" (niu.edu). Locke learned to remain open minded while at Westminster School which helped him create his future philosophies. While attending Westminster, Locke became a highly respected scholar.

In 1652, Locke received a scholarship from Westminster School to attend the Christ Church in Oxford where he studied medicine and a plethora of readings by Descartes. Descartes's writings helped Locke to form his own philosophy; therefore, Locke wrote his most important work, "//An Essay Concerning Human Understanding//". He continued to write many other works both in and out of school; moreover, his exile gave him time to produce many other works which became popular later in Locke's life. After Locke graduated from Christ Church, he went to become a physician for Lord Ashley in London.

Arguably one of Locke's most famous works is "//An Essay Concerning Human Understanding//". He wrote it in 1690, and the essay rejects the rationalists' and Descartes' idea of innate ideas and explains Locke's personal views on empiricism; thus, it establishes the principles of modern empiricism. The essay presents his own systematic philosophy of mind and thought his philosophy on how we think and perceive things in our head. Locke presents other important philosophies of his in this work as well, including his ideas on the senses, "the division of simple ideas" (Locke, Berkeley, Hume), and "reflection" (Locke, Berkeley, Hume); moreover, he presents his idea of the blank state of mind or "tabula rasa".

Throughout Locke's life, he "had many prominent friends who were nobles in government and also highly respected scholars of the times" (let.rug.nl), and their ideas and influence contributed to Locke's personal philosophy. Richard Busby was one of the most influential mentors in John Locke's upbringing at the Westminster School. He was the headmaster of the school and helped Locke to think for himself and also to look at the world in a different way. Descartes had a role in how Locke created his philosophy with his views on innate ideas, but Locke also had a "love/hate relationship with Descartes' ideas" (niu.edu). He agreed with Descartes's ideas on atoms and how they are the building blocks of matter, but at the same time, Locke disagreed with Descartes' view on the soul and innate ideas" (niu.edu). Locke was intrigued by "an ailing political figure known" (niu.edu) as Anthony Ashley Cooper because he thought society should have a greater religious tolerance "and a parliament that could keep the monarchy in check" (niu.edu). These ideas led to Locke's creation of "//Two Treatises on Government//" which explained how Locke felt the government should be ran. Locke was extremely intrigued with the thoughts of Isaac Newton. Newton's idea on how the mind is made up of tiny particles had a huge influence in Locke's thought process. He would mix his ideas with those of Newton in the future; thus, Newton directly influenced Locke's philosophy.

One of Locke's most popular contributions to the world of philosophy was the idea of a tabula rasa and how we think. He stated that before we perceive anything, our mind is an empty slate. He thought the way to get out of the tabula rasa was to sense things using the five senses (smell, taste, feeling, sight, hearing) as an infant; thus, simple ideas of sense arise. Locke took this idea and created the concept of simple ideas of sense. Locke took it even further and expanded on this thought by stating when these single ideas get worked on by thinking, doubt, reasoning and doubting, it becomes known as reflection. Another concept conceived by Locke was that we learn through experience throughout our lives. All of these ideas earned John Locke the names of "Father of Liberal Philosophy" and "Leader of the Enlightenment Age" because he is said to have fathered Classical Liberalism through his philosophy.

John Locke believed in equal rights for all, and he wanted freedom of religion. When the king of England heard of this idea, he saw it as a challenge to his authority, and the king of England had John Locke exiled from England; therefore, Locke lost everything he had worked for over the past years. This drove him to create more ideas and theories, and later in his life,"Locke wrote and developed the philosophy that there was no legitimate government under the divine right of kings theory" (let.rug.nl). Locke saw that the reason government is established is to protect the life, liberty and property of people. In other words, he believed the government protects the natural rights of human beings. This concept was incorporated into America's Declaration of Independence; moreover, ideas from his philosophy were used by the North American colonies in their revolution against England.

John Locke was living at Oates, the country house of Lady and Lord Masham when he died. His death was on October 28, 1704 while he was living in Essex, England. Though he died centuries ago, his philosophy is still a prominent part in today's world. People do still use all of their senses to experience new things, and his ideas on government and natural rights are directly used in today's world with the Declaration of Independence.

**Works Cited** "A Biography of John Locke (1632-1704)." N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2014. Berkeley, George, David Hume, and John Locke. //Locke, Berkeley, Hume//. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952. Print. "John Locke - Biography." //John Locke//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2014. "John Locke." //History.com//. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2014. "John Locke." //John Locke//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

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