John+Locke

John Locke (1632-1704) John Locke is known as one of the greatest philosophers of the 17th and early 18th century. Locke wanted people to use reason to find the truth not just listen to authority figures or believe in superstition. He was also very interested in the limits of human understanding. Many philosophers before him, but he actually was going to try and figure it out. His most famous work "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" speculated the limits of human understanding in relation to god,nature, and several other things. There are 4 books are parts to this work each trying to explain the limits of human understanding. The 1st book says that at birth we know nothing and that our mind is a blank slate. He goes on to say how thinking that we know things from birth is false and goes in detail to why it is false. In this book he says //"Let us suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters." He is comparing our minds as a blank piece of paper and then our experiences will "write//" on the paper. The 2nd book he says that all ideas come from experiences further supporting his point that since at birth you have had no experiences you can not know anything. Book 3 is about language and how it is connected with ideas and its role with knowledge. It is basically saying that what you hear, how you hear, and who is saying it to you will directly affect the ideas you will come with in the future. Locke says in this book "Thus we may conceive how words, which were by nature so well adapted to that purpose, came to be made use of by men, as the signs of their ideas." In Locke's view words to not describe things in the actual world, but describe an image in your head. For example, if you say an animal you are not talking about any real animal but you are talking about a picture in your head of said animal. Book 4, the culmination of the previous reflections, explains the nature and limits of knowledge, probability, an d the relation of reason and faith. Basically Book 4 is his theory of knowledge. Knowledge according to Locke is the perception of strong internal relations that hold among the ideas themselves. He then lists for relations between ideas that he believes would count as knowledge. They are identity/diversity, relation, coexistence, actual existence. The rest of the book is about determining the difference between opinion or belief. John Locke was one of the early supporters of democracy. He believed that one person can not rule without the consent of the people. He also believed that political power should be divided equally into 3 branches so that politicians would not be tempted to seize absolute control. He thought that anybody that abused his position has the right to be removed and replaced with some the people supported. Locke believed everything that our government is based on and no doubt inspired how the United States early leaders shaped our government. Locke spoke out against anything he deemed wrong whether that issue was an unfair government or slavery. Locke wrote, “T//he natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only have the law of nature for his rule."// Locke also believed that women had the ability to think just as well as men which entitled them to an equal voice which was a very unpopular idea during his time. Even though he feared that he might be censored, he wrote, //"It may not be wrong to offer new ideas when the old traditions are apt to lead men into mistakes, as this idea of fatherly power's probably has done, which seems so eager to place the power of parents over their children wholly in the father, as if the mother had no share in it. Whereas if we consult reason or the Bible, we shall find she has an equal title.”// This solidified his opinion on woman's rights and accentuated the disapproval of monarchs and many religious people. However, this did help inspire our constitution seeing that we have abolished slavery and have given women equal rights.


 * The following 2 pictures are 2 of Locke's Most famous works. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Two Treatises of Government:**



= = = = __ Hero __ This man, John Locke, should be given the English man of the year award for his insightful views of politics and all around astonishing ideas. John Locke does not believe that God has given a family of people the right to rule a country. He has rejected Divine Right, which many monarchs use to rationalize their right to rule. John Locke has argued that governments should only be run by a person or a system that it's people have chosen. Locke has said, //"We have learned from history we have reason to conclude that all peaceful beginnings of government have been laid in the consent of the people."// According to Locke governments were created to protect the right to freedom, and the right to property. He believes that rights should belong to all people bit just the wealthy. Even the poorest man in this country should have the same rights as the wealthiest. He also wants to abolish the abuses that our government portrays on us. If any government official abuses these rights instead of protecting them, then the people have the right to rebel and create a new government or appoint a different official.

**__ Wanted __** **__ Dead Or Alive __**



John Locke needs to be forced to recant all of his work. No one should ever publish a paper saying that me a God on Earth actually has no connection with God. This country would perish if it weren't for me. This 3 branch government for him is just a decoy so he can serve as the head and get control for himself. Only one man can be trusted with the well being of this country and that man is me. As your King I demand that you find this man by any means necessary. If you don't obey me you are committing a crime against God.


 * Acrostic Poem Requirements: **
 * Write the words John Locke vertically on your paper.
 * for each letter of his name write a sentence about his beliefs.
 * make sure to write in complete sentences.
 * include historical information

**__Acrostic Poem Grade Sheet: __**
====** · ****The student turned his/her work on time. If not 10% off each day that it is late. **No work will be accepted after the 3rd day late.** ** ==== ====** · ****The student correctly completed the assignment______ 10 points - ** ==== ====** · ****The student wrote in complete sentences and used historical information _____ 20 points ** ==== ==== · **Total of 30 points **====