Locke

John Locke (1632-1704) has a good claim to the title of thegreatest ever English philosopher, and was a founding father ofboth the empiricist tradition in philosophy and the liberaltradition in politics. This new book provides an accessibleintroduction to Locke's thought. Although its primary focusis on the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, it also discussesthe Two Treatises on Government, the Essay on Toleration, and theReasonableness of Christianity, and draws on materials fromLocke's correspondence and notebooks to shed light on thecontexts of these major works. Locke's arguments for hiscentral claims are subjected to close scrutiny, and his replies tohis main critics evaluated.
A.J. Pyle takes as his guiding theme Locke's own maxim, thatGod has given humans enough knowledge for our needs. Thephilosopher who emerges from these pages is a strikingly modernfigure, anti-metaphysical in his attitude both to science and totheology, anti-authoritarian in his politics, and cautiouslyoptimistic about human progress. Locke is indeed one of thefounding figures of the Enlightenment, but for Pyle the LockeanEnlightenment is a modest affair of slow and hesitant gropingtowards the light.
As well as serving as an introduction to Locke for students, thebook also helps to correct a number of significant errors andmisunderstandings that have marred our understanding of Locke andwill spark discussion and debate amongst scholars of his work.