Locke's Lasting Influence

In this week’s reading, the focus was on John Locke, and an excerpt from his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, primarily the Epistle to the Reader. In his introduction, the author explains that his essay came about through lengthy discussions with friends. He initially thought that one piece of paper would contain all he had to say about the idea, but as time went by, he found himself coming back to the subject matter and expanding what he had to say.

Locke comes off as apologetic when he tells the reader that he or she may find the essay redundant or repetitive, but admits that he was not going to edit any of the content.

Ultimately, Locke's Essay is a labor of love of which Locke spent many hours working on and off on over an extended period and is the result of a very personal project for the author.

The author presents the idea that thoughts are all for all humans, not just those enlightened by divinity. Thoughts, ideas, concepts, and understanding in general, is something a person goes through the experience of life.

The idea that people are born with a blank mind becomes known as the concept of “Tabla Raza,” which means “blank slate.”

Locke’s essay on how as humans we learn and understand things would be the tip of a revolutionary iceberg that would forever change politics and have a direct influence on our very world today.

At the time that Locke was spreading the ideas that human could think for themselves by what they experienced was a time when monarchs ruled without being questioned because it was socially accepted that they were appointed to their powers of position by God.

The author would later propose an ideal government that opposed this practice by redefining the nature of government entirely. Instead of a ruler imposing his or her authority in their subjects such as had been traditionally the case, Locke’s ideal state would be one where the people gave the power to the ruler and allowed him to either maintain or lose power.

According to the website, www.ushistory.org John Lock is the most influential figure in shaping the United States government. The idea that a government should operate to protect its people’s life, liberty, and independence profoundly influenced the way in which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and is the reason we enjoy many of the freedoms that we do.







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